Birmingham Hip Resurfacing

An Alternative to Total Hip Replacement for the Younger, More Active Patient

Prior to 2006, individuals suffering from severe hip pain due to arthritis or injury had only surgery option: hip replacement. But, this procedure has its drawbacks for the younger set who face a second, possibly less successful, total replacement surgery when the first wears out as well as reduced range of motion that can limit some physical activities.

Thomas Beck, D.O., of Atlantic Orthopaedics and Atlantic General Hospital's Joint Surgery Center, is the only orthopedic surgeon on Maryland's Eastern Shore offering the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure.

How It Works

Similar to a total hip replacement, the procedure eliminates the pain causes by the femoral bone rubbing against the hip socket when the protective cartilage between the bones has been worn away. What is different is the durability and range of motion it affords.

This bone-conserving technique allows a patient to keep the femoral ball -- something that is removed during a total hip replacement. Instead, a cobalt chrome implant is placed over the end of the ball, which then fits inside the metal-lined hip socket. This hardware is more like a cap on a tooth than a traditional implant. Additionally, it doesn't require a plastic liner to separate the metal surfaces of the ball implant and the socket, which can slowly break down over time resulting in irritation in the joint and eventual failure of the hip replacement.

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Who is a Candidate?

Unfortunately, not everyone considering surgery is a good candidate for the Birmingham procedure. For resurfacing to be successful, the bone needs to be very strong. Although there are exceptions, most candidates are:

• Male
• Under age 60

For more information, contact the Center for Joint Surgery at Atlantic General Hospital at (410) 641-9189 today.