FLORIDA MEDICAL CLINIC ORTHOPAEDIST INTRODUCES
UNIQUE ALTERNATIVE TO TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT
Innovative Birmingham Hip Resurfacing™ System
preserves bone and joint stability for young, active patients
Tampa, Fl. (March, 2006) – Dr.
Stephen Raterman of the Florida
Medical Clinic in Tampa is among the first surgeons in this country who
have been trained in England to perform the remarkable new Birmingham
Hip Resurfacing (BHR) technique. Rather than replacing the entire hip
joint, as in a total hip replacement, hip resurfacing simply shaves and
caps a few centimeters of bone within the joint.
The Birmingham Hip’s bone-conserving approach preserves more of the
patient’s natural bone structures and stability, covering the joint’s
surfaces with an all-metal implant that more closely resembles a tooth
cap than a hip implant. This approach reduces the post-operative risks
of dislocation and inaccurate leg length, and because the all-metal
implant is made from tough, smooth cobalt chrome, it has the potential
to last longer than traditional hip implants.
“This is one of the most exciting procedures I’ve seen in years,”
explains
Dr. Raterman. “I see hip resurfacing as the ideal solution for
many of my young, active patients who suffer from hip pain. As my
patients are getting younger and younger, and are staying physically
active much later in life, I’ve needed an alternative to total hip
replacement that accommodates their age and lifestyle. The Birmingham
Hip Resurfacing System is that alternative.”
The Birmingham Hip implant is intended for patients suffering from hip
pain due to osteoarthritis, dysplasia or avascularnecrosis, and for
whom total hip replacement may not be appropriate due to their increased
level of physical activity. For this reason, most surgeons feel it will
be ideal for patients under age 60 who live non-sedentary lifestyles.
About the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant
While the BHR implant closely matches the size of a patient’s natural
femoral head (hip ball), it is substantially larger than the femoral
head of a traditional total hip replacement implant. This increased size
translates to greater stability in the new joint, and it decreases the
chance of dislocation of the implant after surgery. Dislocation is a
leading cause of implant failure after total hip replacement.
Total hip replacement involves the removal of the entire femoral head
and neck. The Birmingham Hip resurfacing technique, however, leaves the
head and neck untouched. It is this neck length and angle that
determines the natural length of a patient’s leg after surgery, and
since it is not removed and replaced with an artificial device during
the resurfacing procedure, there is a greater likelihood of maintaining
accurate leg length.
The Birmingham Hip implant is an all-metal ball and socket joint.
Traditional hip replacements use a metal ball and a plastic socket. As
would be assumed, this plastic socket wears down over time, and may need
to be replaced surgically. In fact, it is a leading cause of
follow-up surgeries. All-metal total hip replacements reduce joint wear by
97-percent compared to total hip implants containing these plastic
sockets.
For additional information about
Dr. Raterman or the Birmingham Hip
Resurfacing System, we encourage you to call our office in Tampa at
813.979.0440, or Zephyrhills at 813.780.1555. Or visit our website at
www.floridamedcialclinic.com.
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For more information about the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System, visit
www.hipresurfacing.com
Birmingham Hip Resurfacing is a trademark of Smith & Nephew, Inc.
