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Frequently Asked Questions - Birmingham Hip Resurfacing

Since the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) orthoplasty is new in the United States, is it clinically proven?

While the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing orthoplasty is new to the United States, it is not a new implant or technique. It has been in use worldwide since 1997, and the US Food and Drug Administration reviewed a tremendous amount of resulting clinical data before approving it for use in this country.

Who is a candidate for the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System?

The typical patient will be physically active, under 60 years of age, and suffering from hip arthritis. The implant can be used in patients over 60 whose bone quality is strong enough to support the implant. Your surgeon will make the determination if you are a candidate for hip resurfacing.

What are my physical limitations after surgery?

Most surgeons will tell you that after the first year, you can return to whatever physical activity you enjoyed before hip pain limited your mobility. For instance, unlike total hip replacement, you will be able to return to jogging after your first year after surgery. During your first year, more conservative, low-impact activities like walking, swimming and bicycling are recommended for strengthening your femoral neck and the muscles around your resurfaced joint.

How long will the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant last?

It is impossible to say how long your implant will last because so many factors play into the lifespan of an implant. In the case of resurfacing, for instance, the metal-on-metal bearing surfaces of your new joint may extend its life, but failure to comply with your physical rehabilitation regime may cause your implant to fail within months. A clinical study showed the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant had a survivorship of 98.4-percent at the five-year mark, which is comparable with the survivorship of a traditional total hip replacement in the under-60 age group.

How long will my scar be?

Your surgeon will use an incision of between six and eight inches in length. While some surgeons may use a slightly smaller incision, most will fall in that range.

What have the patient experiences been like for overseas patients?

A 1,626-hip study of the effectiveness of the technique found that 99.5-percent of patients responded they were “Pleased” or “Extremely pleased” with the results of their BHR surgery. Though not a guaranteed result for every patient, some former patients have returned to the soccer field, karate competition and 5k races.

How many U.S. surgeons have been trained in the Birmingham Hip Replacement (BHR) procedure?

Fewer than 60 of the country’s 30,000 orthopedic surgeons will have the necessary training on this technology during the first half of 2006. By the end of the year, plans call for the training of 150 additional surgeons.

Facts:

• Though many may consider hip osteoarthritis as a predominately female health concern, more than 500,000 men suffer from hip osteoarthritis in the United States.
• In the United States, 400,000 total hip replacements are performed per year. Analysts believe as many as 60,000 of these patients could be candidates for hip resurfacing.
• The Birmingham Hip Replacement (BHR) system is the first hip resurfacing technique and implant approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration.
• The BHR System is manufactured by London-based medical device manufacturer Smith & Nephew.
• BHR was developed by Birmingham, England-based orthopedic surgeons Derek McMinn and Ronan Treacy, who personally trained the majority of the U.S. surgeons who currently use the resurfacing system.