How is total hip resurfacing surgery different from replacement?
Total hip resurfacing surgery could be the answer to severe pain, swelling and stiffness in hip joint. The procedure involves trimming and capping of the femoral head that is the head of the thighbone with a smooth metal covering. To understand the difference between hip replacement and hip resurfacing in detail, you need to understanding the anatomy of a hip joint. The hip joint is made up of the head of the thighbone called femoral head and a round socket of the hip joint. The femoral head moves smoothly in the socket that is lined with cartilage that helps in smooth movement of the joint. The traditional total hip replacement involves replacing the femoral head and the damaged socket with artificial components made of metal, plastic or ceramic. But in resurfacing, the femoral head is cleaned of the damaged portion and only the cartilage within the socket is removed. A metal shell is placed in the socket to allow free movement of the joint. Advantages of r