| The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing |
| To the left is a healthy hip and to the right is a hip joint affected by osteoarthritis. |
The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System has over 10 years of clinical success around the world, but was just
recently introduced to the United States in 2006. There are many advantages to this procedure when
compared to a total hip replacement. If you have osteoarthritis of the hip, the Birmingham Hip System may be
right for you. Here are some of the advantages of this system:
recently introduced to the United States in 2006. There are many advantages to this procedure when
compared to a total hip replacement. If you have osteoarthritis of the hip, the Birmingham Hip System may be
right for you. Here are some of the advantages of this system:
Bone Sparing
To the left, you can see the bone cuts
that are required to implant a
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing
component. As you can see, only a
small portion of the femoral head is
shaved away.
Compare that to the illustrations on the
right of a total hip replacement. You
can see that the entire head and neck
of the femur is cut away and replaced
by a long hip stem, neck and head.
This sparing of bone preserves more
of your normal anatomy and saves
more bone if you are required to
undergo a second, or revision surgery
later on in life. As you can see below,
a BHR can be revised to a standard
primary hip if it wears out down the
road.
that are required to implant a
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing
component. As you can see, only a
small portion of the femoral head is
shaved away.
Compare that to the illustrations on the
right of a total hip replacement. You
can see that the entire head and neck
of the femur is cut away and replaced
by a long hip stem, neck and head.
This sparing of bone preserves more
of your normal anatomy and saves
more bone if you are required to
undergo a second, or revision surgery
later on in life. As you can see below,
a BHR can be revised to a standard
primary hip if it wears out down the
road.
Advanced Bearing Surfaces
The Birmingham Hip System is a Metal
on Metal bearing surface which
provides superior wear characteristics
to the traditional Metal on Plastic
bearing surfaces of most total hip
replacements. It is the plastic wear
that accounts for most total hip failures
causing osteolysis and bone loss
behind the cup and around the stem.
on Metal bearing surface which
provides superior wear characteristics
to the traditional Metal on Plastic
bearing surfaces of most total hip
replacements. It is the plastic wear
that accounts for most total hip failures
causing osteolysis and bone loss
behind the cup and around the stem.
| Larger Femoral Head Size |
The larger femoral head size of the
BHR more closely matches the size of
the normal femoral head it is replacing.
This allows for better stability,
increased range of motion and the
ability to participate in more high
demand activities. Many BHR patients
are able to participate in all of the
activities that they were previously able
to perform prior to their hip disease.
There are very few limitations placed
on BHR patients. A BHR hip candidate
must have good bone quality and little
or no deformity to the affected hip. Not
all patients will be ideal candidates for
this procedure.
BHR more closely matches the size of
the normal femoral head it is replacing.
This allows for better stability,
increased range of motion and the
ability to participate in more high
demand activities. Many BHR patients
are able to participate in all of the
activities that they were previously able
to perform prior to their hip disease.
There are very few limitations placed
on BHR patients. A BHR hip candidate
must have good bone quality and little
or no deformity to the affected hip. Not
all patients will be ideal candidates for
this procedure.
