Hip resurfacing arthroplasty: the evolution of contemporary designs

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing is considered by many as the most significant recent development in hip arthroplasty. It preserves proximal femoral bone stock, optimizes stress transfer to the proximal femur, and offers inherent stability and optimal range of movement. The early results of hip resurfacing in the 1970s and 1980s were poor and the procedure was largely abandoned by the mid-1980s. The expectation that these prostheses would be easy to revise was not often fulfilled. The large diameter of the articulation combined with thin polyethylene cups or liners resulted in accelerated wear and the production of large volumes of biologically active particulate debris, leading to bone loss and implant loosening. Failure has been attributed to other factors, mainly avascular necrosis of the femoral head. However, this concern has not been confirmed by retrieval studies. The failure of early hip resurfacings was essentially a consequence of the use of inappropriate materials, poor implant design, inadequate instrumentation, and crude surgical technique. It was not an inherent problem with the procedure itself. The renaissance of metal-on-metal articulations for total hip arthroplasty enabled the introduction of new hip resurfacings and most of the major implant manufacturers have already introduced such systems. Early results are encouraging and complications commonly seen in the 1970s and 1980s, such as early implant loosening and femoral neck fracture, now appear to be rare. Whilst early results should be regarded with caution, modern metal-on-metal hip resurfacing potentially offers the ultimate bone preservation and restoration of function in appropriately selected young patients.