Is joint resurfacing better than total hip joint replacement?
Dr Shital Parikh
Assistant Professor, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery,
Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center,
Ohio
Assistant Professor, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery,
Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center,
Ohio
Q: Is joint resurfacing a better idea than total hip joint replacement or minimally invasive surgery? What is the normal life of the replaced joint and that of the resurfaced one?
A:For young patients (less than around 60 years), joint resurfacing can be a more conservative surgery. However, it is done well in only a few centres and the long term results are variable. It can always be converted to total joint replacement later. Total replacement is better in older patients, it is a single operation, reliable and done worldwide and long term results are good.