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Resurfacing vs THR

Posted , 5 users are following.

Notabene
Notabene

 Has anybody on here experienced having a full hip replacement on one side and resurfacing on the other ?  I guess I'm just looking for a less drastic surgery for my second procedure. Looking at x-rays it looks to me as if they remove so much healthy bone, there has to be a less drastic solution...NB

2 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK Notabene

    Posted

    I believe that it all depends on how degraded the bone is in your ball and socket. When I looked at the xray of my bone-on-bone ball and socket it was sickening, compared to my healthy other hip with the nice layer of cartilage between the two. As my daughter said, it looked like I had jumped off of a roof and the ball and socket had crashed into each other, with all these things pointing up and down, jagged with no space between the two.

    From what I have heard, most people who have the resurfacing end up having to have a THR down the line anyway. Sometimes people are sorry they had the resurfacing since they had to have another surgery a few years later. The orthopedic surgeons are in the best position to recommend what would be ideal for you.

    • Notabene
      Notabene AnnieK

      Posted

       I think I'd opt for the lesser surgery now, regardless, if given the choice.  Like you I'm bone on bone and the more the loss, the bigger that bl...y prosthesis socket. The prospect is sickening. It'll be like having two table legs. I don't recognise my shape.  Mind you Boron supps have strengthened bone there as X-rays show not much difference over two years...
  • michelb
    michelb Notabene

    Posted

    For myself, I would prefer the hip resurfacing as based on what I've read, I believe it's better for more active individuals and it makes subsequent future replacements easier (i.e. going from resurfaced to replaced is easier than going from replaced to new replaced) but from my experience, hip resurfacing (with posterior approach) was a much greater surgery than hip replacement (with anterior approach) (at least in terms of recovery).
    • michelb
      michelb

      Posted

      I should add that, although I do like resurfacing in theory, I've only had mine for 7 months and I do still experience some pain (nothing like pre-surgery) and I'm not sure if it will always be like that or if it will resolve itself as I heal more.  So far the THR on my right leg feels really good (but it's been less than a week so I'm far from being fully recovered).
  • Soos2016
    Soos2016 Notabene

    Posted

    This is purely anecdotal - when looking for a surgeon for a second opinion, a friend related her two friends' experience. Both of these were under the age of 35 and had the same surgeon. The first had THR and 2 years later is completely satisfied with the results. The second had resurfacing rather than the surgeon's recommendation of THR. At one month she was fine, at two months the same pain and bone on bone returned. She will have a THR in future. 

    Whatever you decide, I wish you a good outcome and recovery.

    • michelb
      michelb Soos2016

      Posted

      I forgot to address that as well but ultimately, I think you want to find a surgeon who you can trust and go with their opinion.  I think it's good to be informed but there are so many variables and as much you research, the surgeon will always know infinitately more than you and has the experience to tell you what will work best in your situation.

      Best of luck.

      Mike

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