Hip Resurfacing is Less Painful at 24 Hours than Hip Replacement

Both total hip resurfacing and total hip arthroplasty are viable surgical options for properly indicated patients less than the age of 65 years, although longer-term survivorship is waited for the former. Controversy remains about whether there is a clear front-runner in the treatment of end-stage hip disease in the young male osteoarthritic patient. Theoretic advantages to resurfacing include the removal of less bone stock, which may provide a better femoral bone foundation for future revision to total hip arthroplasty if needed. By removing less bone, there is a theoretic advantage in the immediate postoperative period because of less pain. This article prospectively and quantitatively compares immediate postoperative pain between patients less than the age of 65 years undergoing total hip resurfacing or total hip arthroplasty.