Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Safe, Effective Over 15 Years
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, April 21, 2025 -- Birmingham hip resurfacing (BHR) is effective and shows implant longevity in appropriately selected patients, according to a study published in the March 19 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
William A. Zuke, M.D., from Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues evaluated BHR survivorship, as well as radiographic and clinical outcomes, at long-term follow-up. The analysis included 224 patients meeting the current indications for BHR (i.e., men younger than 60 years of age with a preoperative diagnosis of osteoarthritis and proximal femoral bone able to accept a component size ≥48 mm) who were followed for a mean of 14 years. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were compared to those for matched patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA).
The researchers found that survivorship free from any revision and from aseptic revision was 96.0 and 97.4 percent, respectively, at 15 years. The median serum cobalt level was 1.4 parts per billion, while the median serum chromium level was 1.5 parts per billion. PROs were similar to those reported by patients who had undergone THA. Similarly, equal proportions of patients remained active, although the BHR group trended toward more remaining highly active.
"On the basis of implant survival and level of satisfaction, this long-term follow-up study supports the use of BHR in select patients," the authors write. "Long-term monitoring is suggested for patients with pain or elevated metal ions."
Smith & Nephew provided funding for the study.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2025
Read this next
Exercise Helps Reduce Side Effects From Cancer Treatment
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Exercise mitigates adverse outcomes associated with cancer and its treatments, according to a review published online April 29 in the British Journal...
Adoption of Telemedicine Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Telemedicine use modestly decreases the carbon footprint of U.S. health care delivery, according to a study published online April 22 in the American...
Eliminating Nursing Understaffing Aids Hospital Outcomes
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Addressing nursing understaffing improves outcomes for hospitalized patients, according to a study published online April 29 in BMJ Quality &...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.