Minimally Invasive Approach to Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty

Resurfacing is a type of total hip arthroplasty in which the femoral head is mostly preserved and the resurfacing component caps the top of the head in a manner similar to which a dentist caps a tooth. Modern day resurfacing involves metal-on-metal articulations with the resurfacing femoral component presently mated with a metal acetabular component. The acetabular components used in resurfacing are typically one piece, but are generally similar to acetabular components that are used for standard total hip replacements. The use of these metal-on-metal resurfacings have become more popular recently with the advent of new metallurgy, which promises that these devices may have low wear rates and hence excellent longevity. Present day resurfacing results are at a maximum of close to 10 years. The early results are excellent, with complication rates that approach the results for standard total hip arthroplasty.1,2