Hip Resurfacing Takes A Hit

Hip resurfacing, seen in recent years as an alternative to hip replacement, is now showing some of the same problems as full replacement.  The New York Times reports that the resurfacing option had been preferred by some because it preserves more of the thigh bone, and allows patients to remain active. But now comes a report from the California Technology Assessment Forum warning that orthopedic registries show a high failure rate, for the same reason that all metal replacements have a high failure rate: the cobalt and chromium used in the apparatus can flake off in tiny fragments, which can lead to tissue damage. The Times quotes Dr. Edwin P. Su, an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York who specializes in resurfacing, suggesting that the increased mobility of resurfacing still makes it the best option for younger and more active patients. Read more in the New York Times.