THE LEARNING CURVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIP RESURFACING PROCEDURE

Introduction and Aims: Hip resurfacing has undergone a resurgence of interest in the past five years, requiring surgeons to learn new principles and new operative techniques. For experienced surgeons, the learning curve is more transparent than in their earlier careers. Method: We have reviewed the first 100 hip resurfacings performed by two experienced surgeons. Results of the first 20 and second 20 were compared for a difference, then the first 30 and second 30 and finally the first 50 and second 50. We evaluated accuracy of pre-operative planning to final sizing, pre-operative neck shaft angle and post-operative prosthesis angle, revision rates, complication rates, equipment problems, placement of the acetabular component. Results: On comparing the first 50 procedures performed with the second 50 performed, there was a significant difference (p Conclusion: We note there is a definite learning curve associated with the hip resurfacing procedure and it was longer than we estimated.