Hip Resurfacing
Hip Resurfacing or Surface Replacement Arthroplasty is a bone-conserving alternative to conventional Total Hip Replacement (THR). Unlike THR, hip Resurfacing does not involve the removal of the femoral head and neck nor removal of bone from the femur. Rather, the head, neck and femur bone is preserved in an effort to facilitate future surgery should it be necessary and to enable the patient to take advantage of newer technology or treatments in the future. The current generation of hip Resurfacing devices utilize a metal bearings have demonstrated a much higher level of wear resistance as well as reduced bone loss and inflammatory tissue reaction about the hip joint as compared to metal-polyethylene bearings.
Hip Resurfacing is anatomically and biomechanically more similar to the natural hip joint resulting in increased stability, flexibility and range of motion. Further, dislocation risk is virtually eliminated. Higher activity levels are typically achieved with less risk. These benefits are realized because the head diameter that results from Resurfacing is very similar to the patient's normal head diameter and these larger head sizes are typically much larger than the femoral balls utilized in conventional THR.
Advantages of Hip Resurfacing :
1. Allows the patient to squat and sit on the floor safely
2. Allows a normal range of movement and sporting activities after operation
3. Sacrifices only the diseased bone and preserves normal bone
4. Restores the normal structures of the hip
5. More natural feel after surgery
6. Early rehabilitation
7. Easy to revise if needed
8. Less risk of dislocation
9. No leg length alteration
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Comments
A press release from WorldMedAssist had a case study of a U.S. patient who couldn't affort US$60,000 for hip resurfacing procedure in the U.S., and got a quotation of US$10,000 for having the procedure performed at Wockhardt. Because Wockhardt also had more experience with this procedure than U.S. hospitals, he chose to undergo the procedure there.
Comments from the press release include:
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Steve Berg returned from a 15-day trip for hip resurfacing in India, a trip that only four months earlier he’d never imagined. He also never thought he’d be joining the fast growing ranks of medical tourists traveling overseas from North America for surgery they can’t afford at home.
Last October, Steve Berg went to his chiropractor for an alignment to alleviate hip pain that caused him to pop up to 16 ibuprofens a day. But x-rays soon confirmed the chiropractor’s initial suspicion: severe arthritis, not a chiropractic adjustment, would require surgery. The diagnosis was confirmed by an orthopedic surgeon. He was then hit with further bad news: hip replacement anywhere near home would cost about $60,000 because he was among the 47 million uninsured Americans forced to gamble that they’ll never need serious medical attention.
He didn’t have $60,000.
He hit the internet...but soon learned it’s impossible to find an experienced doctor in the U.S. because it’s a procedure only recently (2006) approved by the FDA. Berg found that several countries overseas had been resurfacing hips for a lot longer than in the U.S.
“There’s a steep learning curve with this procedure, and I didn’t want anyone in the U.S. practicing on me. When you look at our hospitals, you see a very high percentage of doctors from India, so I decided to go to the source!” Berg chuckled.
Berg chose Wockhardt in Mumbai because their surgeon, Dr. Malhan, had done a large number of hip surgeries and is UK board certified.
“WorldMed Assist quoted me a total cost of just over $10,000, including hip surgery, hotel, a two-week hospital stay and all my travel—about 1/6th the price I faced in the U.S. That price even included dental work I’d been putting off for 7 years.”
While recovering from surgery in a private hospital suite complete with a refrigerator, visitor’s couch, computer, cable TV and his own deluxe bathroom, Berg met several other medical travelers. About a third had made their own arrangements, as Berg had attempted to do; several others had used global healthcare facilitators.
“Now, I’m home, and already back to work. The pain in my hip was gone a week after surgery. Before surgery, I could only stand for one hour and then I needed to lie down on a hot pad for two hours…that makes for pretty slow progress restoring these motorcycles.”
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Article here.
I had a hip resurfacing operation on the 12 August2008 Age 79yrs 10mths (nearly 80yrs) I still feel a cracking with every step I make coming from my hip joint (cobat Chrome alloy). When I walk without any aid for about 50 yards the cracking seem to tire my leg and I have to stop. No pain at all but I was expecting that after seven months I would be able to walk better. Is this normal for a man on my age maybe ? I still have not reached the strenght that I had before the operation. Your opinion will be greaty appreciated.
Tank you