This operation is primarily intended for use in people who are in need of a hip replacement at a younger age. There are certain causes of arthritis of the hip which mean that this technique cannot be used - namely those which have resulted in extreme deformity of either the head of the femur or the acetabulum.

For people needing a replacement under the age of 55, regular consideration is given for this procedure. People aged between 55 and 65 who are very active and otherwise fit may also be suitable and this will be determined by their bone quality. The procedure may be considered for people over the age of 65, however, this would need to be discussed and a decision reached in a more interrogative way because a conventional type of hip replacement in somebody of this age group stands an extremely good chance of lasting them the rest of their lives.

Patients who need to have hip replacements under the age of 50 - 55, assuming they have normal life span, have a very high chance that the conventional hip replacement will wear out and need to be replaced during their lifetime - hence the resurfacing procedure offers potentially significant advantages in this group.
 

Conventional Hip Replacement	Birmingham Hip Resurfacing
Suitable for elderly patients	Suitable for younger patients
Head of femur (thigh bone) removed	Bone not removed
Articulation is metal with plastic	Articulation is metal with metal
Wears our rapidly in young and active patients	'Everlasting' - based on 35 year history in Birmingham of metal on metal articulation
Activity restriction required after surgery for fear of dislocation	Activity restriction not required after surgery as there is hardly any risk of dislocation (can sit on floor ,squat, use Indian toilet ,etc)
Sport not advised as the usage is inversely proportional the life of the hip replacement	Sport and High demand activities encouraged as usage is not related to life of resurfacing implant
Revision surgery invariably necessary in younger patients	Revision surgery not Required for younger patients