Birmingham Hip Resurfacing

In 2006, the FDA released the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System (BHR Hip) to be used in the U.S., although it has been performed in Great Britain since 1996. This is an alternative to a conventional total hip replacement (where the head and neck are removed, then replaced with a stem, ball and socket). In the BHR Hip, the patient's own hip is preserved and the arthritic areas are "resurfaced" with a metal head which fits over the hip ball (femoral head) and in turn fits into the resurfaced metal acetabulum (hip socket).

The Birmingham Hip is indicated for younger, active patients (usually under 65) with primary arthritis of the hip. Joint Registries worldwide have shown the BHR Hip produces better results in younger active males (most likely due to the bone configuration). The implant mimics the patient's own anatomy and is designed to be more stable due to the larger size of the femoral head. This reduces the risk of post-operative dislocation and preserves patient's preoperative leg length. After rehabilitation is completed, patients are usually allowed to resume unrestricted activities.

This procedure is currently being performed by some of the Total Joint surgeons at Tucson Orthopaedic Institute who have received special training in BHR Hip. The following animation illustrates the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure.