When it comes to healthcare, providers oftentimes want to help the patient make the best recovery possible in the least invasive manner. This is why conservative care is typically the first line of treatment. If the added risks of surgery can be avoided and conservative treatment can produce similar results, this is usually the optimal route.
Even when surgery is recommended, doctors still look to find ways to make it less taxing or less invasive on the patient. One way that surgeons are doing that when it comes to hip care is with a hip resurfacing procedure. Unlike a hip replacement procedure that involves inserting an artificial ball and socket joint, the resurfacing procedure only requires the insertion of an artificial socket. The ball aspect of the joint – the femur head – remains and is carefully resurfaced in order to fit securely in the new artificial socket. Preserving this bone is preferred, but it’s not always possible, so what makes someone an ideal candidate for hip resurfacing over hip replacement? In today’s blog, we explore what surgeons look for in an ideal candidate for hip resurfacing surgery.
What Makes An Ideal Hip Resurfacing Candidate?
There are a number of different factors that can help determine if you are a quality candidate for hip resurfacing, but the most important is your bone health. Particularly the health of your femur. The top portion of your femur needs to be pretty healthy since it will not be replaced like it would be during a hip replacement procedure. Moreover, because it will be reshaped, if it has already been subjected to bone loss or you’re dealing with a condition like osteoporosis or osteopenia, your doctor may recommend the traditional replacement. Bone health is the most important factor for patients considering hip resurfacing surgery, so your doctor will begin by assessing your bone strength during the initial stages of treatment to see if an operation could be viable.
Given that bone strength is a key factor, hip resurfacing tends to scale towards a younger audience than hip replacement. Many patients who are ideal candidates for hip resurfacing are between the ages of 40 and 60 and are physically active. This regular activity is great for creating strong bones, and it can play a role in maintaining a healthy weight. Your body weight will also play a role in your ability to undergo hip resurfacing, but this factor is more tied to bone health than the stress extra weight would put on the artificial socket.
One factor that will also be assessed that you have little control over is the size of your hip bones. Patients with larger hip bones are a more ideal candidate given the scope of the procedure, which is why men tend to be better candidates for the operation than women. However, bone size is more important than sex, so if you have larger or smaller hips than average for your sex, it could positively or negatively impact your candidacy for hip resurfacing.
Finally, the ideal candidate for hip resurfacing will really have committed to a conservative care plan that failed to yield results. As we mentioned above, if we can help you restore a fair amount of function and decrease pain without surgery, that’s the optimal route, so most providers are not going to recommend a surgical procedure as the first line of treatment. If you really commit to 6-8 weeks of physical therapy and other active interventions and are still dealing with moderate to severe symptoms, hip resurfacing may be right for you.
Contact Dr. Botero’s Office for Your Hip Surgery
So if you’re looking to learn more about hip resurfacing or other treatment options for hip pain, connect with Dr. Botero’s office today. He’ll be more than happy to conduct a physical exam, provide an accurate diagnosis and talk with you about your needs and goals before developing a treatment plan suited to you. For more information, give our office a call today at (865) 558-4444.
