Hemiarthroplasty

Hemiarthroplasty is a surgical procedure which replaces one half of the joint with an artificial surface and leaves the other part in its natural (pre-operative) state. This class of procedure is most commonly performed on the hip after a subcapital (just below the head) fracture the neck of the femur (a hip fracture). A partial replacement may be the best option for you if you’ve experienced such a fracture, or if you have isolated arthritis or a diseased proximal femur or humerus with no involvement of the hip or shoulder socket.

The procedure is performed by removing the head of the femur and replacing it with a metal or composite prosthesis. The procedure is sometimes recommended only for elderly and frail patients, due to their lower activity level. This is because with the passage of time the prosthesis may loosen or to erode the acetabulum.

Hip Resurfacing Procedure

Hip resurfacing is an alternative to hip replacement surgery. It is a bone conserving procedure that places a metal cap on the femoral head instead of amputating it. There is no long stem placed down the femur so it is more like a natural hip. The damaged bone and cartilage within the socket is removed and replaced with a metal shell, just as in a traditional total hip replacement. This procedure is for patients who have a good bone, and may allow patients a return to many activities following hip resurfacing surgery.