United Kingdom
BIRMINGHAM HIP (BHR) Resurfacing System
An alternative to total hip replacement.
Younger active male patients who suffer 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, may benefit from the bone-conserving approach of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System (BHR).
Unlike total hip replacement, which removes all of the bone within your ball and socket hip joint, the BHR resurfaces just a few centimeters of bone, preserving more of your original joint.
The Implant
The BHR was CE marked in January 1997. It has two parts: the femoral head (the ball) and the acetabular component (the socket).
Head Size
While the implant closely matches the size of your natural femoral head (hip ball), it is substantially larger than the femoral head of most total hip replacements. This increased size helps to reduce the risk of dislocation of the implant after surgery.
Bone Conservation
The BHR implant conserves substantially more bone than a total hip replacement. Since it preserves the natural femoral neck and most of the natural femoral head, a well-placed BHR reduces concerns about post-operative leg length discrepancy. Also, should the implant need to be replaced at some point in the future, a standard hip replacement stem would be appropriate.
The Procedure
Only a few centimeters of bone around the femoral head is removed, shaping it to fit tightly inside the BHR implant.
The acetabulum is prepared for the metal cup that will form the socket portion of the ball-and-socket joint just like a traditional hip replacement.
The femoral component is cemented over the top of the prepared femoral head like a capped tooth and the acetabular component is pressed into place much like a typical hip replacement component would be.
References
An alternative to total hip replacement.
Younger active male patients who suffer 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, may benefit from the bone-conserving approach of the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System (BHR).
Unlike total hip replacement, which removes all of the bone within your ball and socket hip joint, the BHR resurfaces just a few centimeters of bone, preserving more of your original joint.
The Implant
The BHR was CE marked in January 1997. It has two parts: the femoral head (the ball) and the acetabular component (the socket).
Head Size
While the implant closely matches the size of your natural femoral head (hip ball), it is substantially larger than the femoral head of most total hip replacements. This increased size helps to reduce the risk of dislocation of the implant after surgery.
Bone Conservation
The BHR implant conserves substantially more bone than a total hip replacement. Since it preserves the natural femoral neck and most of the natural femoral head, a well-placed BHR reduces concerns about post-operative leg length discrepancy. Also, should the implant need to be replaced at some point in the future, a standard hip replacement stem would be appropriate.
The Procedure
Only a few centimeters of bone around the femoral head is removed, shaping it to fit tightly inside the BHR implant.
The acetabulum is prepared for the metal cup that will form the socket portion of the ball-and-socket joint just like a traditional hip replacement.
The femoral component is cemented over the top of the prepared femoral head like a capped tooth and the acetabular component is pressed into place much like a typical hip replacement component would be.
References
- Data on file, Smith & Nephew.
- S. S. Jameson, D. Lees, P. James, Serrano-Pedraza, P. F. Partington, S. D. Muller, R. M. D. Meek, M. R. Reed. Lower rates of dislocation with increased femoral head size after primary total hip replacement. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 2011;93-B:876-80.
- Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry Annual Report. Adelaide: AOA; 2015.
- Robinson E, Richardson JB, Khan M. Minimum 10 Year Outcome Of Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR), A REVIEW OF 518 Cases From An International Register. Oswestry Outcome Centre, Oswestry, UK.
- Source: Duncan Stephen online LINK
Added May 25, 2021 by Jamie: Here is a link to a report about hip resurfacing failure - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20884969/
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