Hip Resurfacing Technology
Patients at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center offers an alternative to total hip replacement for younger patients has installed a state-of-the-art surgical navigation system from Stryker. Mercy Gilbert is among the first in Arizona's East Valley to use a computer-assisted navigation system in conjunction with orthopedic surgery.
With more than 43 million Americans suffering from arthritis, total hip replacement surgery is not an uncommon procedure. Now, an alternative to total hip replacement surgery allows patients to resume many of the activities they enjoyed pre-operatively while conserving more of their natural bone and helping minimize their risk of dislocation.
The Cormet Hip Resurfacing System, offered exclusively by Stryker in the United States, provides patients with two important benefits. First, patients have more of their natural bone preserved. In this innovative process, the end of the thigh bone, or femur, is capped with a strong metal covering - much like the capping of a tooth. Because the femoral head is simply reshaped and "resurfaced" rather than removed, the procedure is bone conserving. Secondly, the large diameter femoral head may reduce the risk of dislocation, and often provides a more natural performance than traditional total hip arthroplasty.
Interest in hip resurfacing procedures are on the rise globally due to the bone conserving nature of the procedure and anticipated potential benefits related to post-operative activities and range of motion. In these procedures, surgeons replace the hip socket in much the same way as a conventional total hip, but the femoral head is resurfaced rather than removed. Hip resurfacing is viewed by many surgeons as an alternative to traditional total hip replacement to help patients indicated return to their active lifestyles.
Should the implant need replacing in the future, a conventional total hip replacement can typically be used. This makes hip resurfacing an attractive option for younger and more active osteoarthritis patients.
For referral to an orthopedic surgeon in your area, please call ResourceLink at (480) 728-5414 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
