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The Procedure
Until just recently, Dr. Rubinstein would likely be recommending total hip replacement surgery at this point of your disease state. While it is clearly a more bone-sacrificing procedure than hip resurfacing, total hip replacement is a safe and effective surgery, and is performed more than 300,000 times per year in the United States.
| Hip before surgery |
Implant components |
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As you may know, total hip replacement requires the removal of the femoral head and the insertion of a hip stem down the shaft of the femur. Hip resurfacing, on the other hand, preserves the femoral head and the femoral neck. During the procedure, Dr. Rubinstein will only remove a few centimeters of bone around the femoral head, shaping it to fit tightly inside the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing implant.
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Dr. Rubinstein will also prepare the acetabulum for the metal cup that will form the socket portion of the ball-and-socket joint. While the resurfacing component slides over the top of the femoral head like a tooth cap, the acetabular component is pressed into place much like a total hip replacement component would be.
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BIRMINGHAM Hip Resurfacing System
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»Watch an animation of the procedure
(Requires: Flash Player, Download Here)
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| *Trademark of Smith & Nephew. |