appeared in the Star Ledger Sunday Newspaper  on 10/15/00 in the Healthy Living Outlook special section

Resurfacing hip replacement has frequently been appearing in the news.  Frederick  Buechel, M.D., Thomas Helbig, M.D., and Kevin Egan, M.D., board-certified orthopaedic surgeons of South Mountain Orthopaedic Associates of South Orange, NJ, have been doing the procedure for over ten years using the latest titanium-nitride-ceramic technology. 

Resurfacing hip replacement involves the placement of the femoral cap over the upper end of the femoral head and sometimes involves lining the hip socket with a metal-plastic liner.  This allows low-friction metal-on-plastic articulation with minimal bone loss.  The procedure reduces wear and is an option to total hip replacement for many young, active individuals. 

Advantages:

• Lower risk of dislocation
• Conservation of femoral bone
• Less invasive than a stem-type hip replacement
• A conservative approach to hip replacement surgery
• Daily tasks and low-impact aerobic activities can be continued and enjoyed
• Offers patients a long-term outcome
• Improved quality of life

Additional Information:

• The average age ranges from 24 – 50 year old patients with a relatively-active lifestyle 
• Depending upon the patient’s activity level, average expectancy ranges from 5-10 years
• Surgery is about two hours, requires 3-5 days hospitalization, and is covered by insurance 

The decision to perform a hip resurfacing is determined by diagnosis, age and activity level.  Patients diagnosed with avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis may be candidates for the procedure.  The professional and courteous staff of South Mountain Orthopaedic Associates, South Orange, NJ may be contacted to schedule a consultation.

Reproduced with permission of The Star Ledger, NJ Back to Recent News