Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR)
What is hip resurfacing?
In traditional total hip replacement, both the head of the thigh bone (femoral head) and the damaged socket (acetabulum) are removed and replaced with an artificial implant.
Unlike total hip replacement, which removes all the bone within your ball and socket hip joint, hip resurfacing resurfaces just a few centimeters of bone, preserving more of your original joint. Hip resurfacing is an alternative to and less invasive than total hip replacement.
The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure refers to a hip resurfacing operation using the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant, manufactured by Smith and Nephew, Inc.
The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant consists of two pieces, a femoral component and an acetabular component. Both pieces are made of an alloy of cobalt-chromium, one of the most durable metals used in artificial implants today. The acetabular, or socket, component is implanted with a press-fit technique. The roughened, porous, outer surface allows for bone ingrowth when implanted. The femoral component consists of a rounded surface that overlays the prepared femoral head. There is a short stem measuring approximately that allows the implant to be inserted in the proper orientation and alignment.
The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant is the most widely used in the world today. Therefore, it has the longest follow up data and most implantations of any hip resurfacing implant available. It is referred to as the “gold standard” of hip resurfacing implants. Due to the stellar performance of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing to date, it is difficult to improve upon it in its current form.
Hip resurfacing is intended for active patients suffering from hip pain due to non-inflammatory arthritis (degenerative joint disease) such as osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis, or dysplasia/DDH, or inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Furthermore, hip resurfacing is intended for larger-framed patients (often, but not always male) with strong, healthy bone. Patients that are older, female, smaller-framed, with weaker or damaged bone are not ideal candidates.
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing surgery is technologically advanced procedures performed by only a few surgeons worldwide given its long learning curve. Dr Lall performs navigated Birmingham Hip Resurfacing surgery via both the direct anterior and posterolateral approaches. A comprehensive evaluation by your orthopedic surgeon at LALL Orthopedics + will help you determine if you are a good candidate for hip resurfacing.
Dr. Ajay C. Lall is a former dual sport NCAA collegiate athlete (football and track & field), American board certified, triple fellowship-trained expert orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hip arthroscopy and robotic hip replacement. He treats non-athletes and athletes at all levels of play from collegiate to professional to the Olympic level. Dr. Lall is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon who cares for all patients like family. Contact LALL Orthopedics + to schedule a consultation, receive the correct diagnosis, and undergo state-of-the-art treatment options.
At a Glance
Ajay C. Lall, MD, MS, FAAOS
- Board Certified – Orthopedic Surgery
- Triple Fellowship Trained
- Performs over 750 Surgeries Per Year
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