Abstract
There has been a rapid uptake in the use of Resurfacing Hip Replacement (RHR) in the United Kingdom, and its use is likely to accelerate both in Europe and the USA. The current level of use of RHR is not accurately known.
It was decided to audit the use of RHR amongst Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons in the United Kingdom, and to identify the number of operations performed in the last twelve month period, and the specific training undertaken before offering this procedure.
A questionnaire was sent to 1600 Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons with 894 responding.
19% had performed RHR in the previous year.
Excluding surgeons that do not perform Total Hip Replacement, 23.5% of surgeons had performed RHR.
29.5% of all orthopaedic surgeons had observed RHR surgery and 23% had been on an RHR course. 65% of all consultants who had attended a course were offering RHR surgery.
7.8% of those performing RHR had neither been on a course nor observed surgery.
There was no relationship between years in practice and RHR surgery.
There was a weak association with British Hip Society membership and with a previous fellowship in Hip Surgery.
Of those performing RHR, 72% perform less than 20 cases per year. The majority of surgeons perform 6-10 RHRs per year.
Although interest in RHR is increasing, it is currently performed by the minority of consultants. Given the steep learning curve, the lack of knowledge of long-term survival, and concerns regarding metal on metal bearing surfaces, RHR should be used by surgeons with a specialist interest in hip arthroplasty. We believe RHR should be used in accordance with the guidance given by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Peter Kay, Editorial Secretary. Correspondence should be addressed to British Hip Society, The Hip Centre, Wrightington Hospital, Appley Bridge, Wigan, Lancashire WN6 9EP.
