Is joint resurfacing better than total hip joint replacement?

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.