Birmingham Hip Resurfacing- Great Option for Younger Patients
Hip replacement without the replacement? Absolutely. A procedure called Birmingham Hip™ Resurfacing was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006 and has many advantages over total hip replacement. Philip Schmitt, D.O., an orthopaedic surgeon at DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, was the first doctor in Michigan to perform Birmingham Hip Resurfacing. He trained in the bone-saving procedure in Birmingham, England, where it originated.
The procedure has been used in England since the 1970s and on more than 60,000 patients worldwide. Rather than replacing the entire hip joint, Dr. Schmitt shaves and caps a few centimeters of bone, so more of the patient’s natural bone structures and stability are retained. The Birmingham implant provides 98 percent less wear than a traditional hip implant, reduction in the risk of dislocation and inaccurate leg length, reduced recovery time and reduced need for a second surgery.
Since 2006, Dr. Schmitt has completed more than 500 Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedures at DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital. To date, Schmitt has done more Birmingham Hip™ Resurfacing procedures in the state of Michigan than all other surgeons combined.
“This is a very good option for patients younger than 60 who have bad arthritis in the hip,” says Dr. Schmitt.
Bone loss with a traditional total hip replacement:
Bone loss with Birmingham Hip™ Resurfacing:
