The reintroduction of hip resurfacing has raised the possibility of whether it could offer a better outcome in sporting and work activity after surgery compared to total hip replacement.

Questionnaires were analysed from 125 total hip replacement (THR) and 108 hip resurfacing (HR) patients regarding participation in sport in the year after their surgery and returning to work they were employed at prior to their surgery. The two groups had similar average age (61 vs 60) and pre-operative Oxford hip scores (41 vs 38).

Seventy-one of one-hundred and twenty-five THR patients compared to 76/108 HR patients participated in sporting activity in the year after their surgery. When including only patients that played sport before their surgery 54/75 THR and 66/83 HR patients returned to same sporting activity level after their surgery. Of the patients that worked before surgery 35/44 THR patients compared to 70/74 HR patients returned work to after their surgery.

There is significant difference quantity of patients participating in sporting activity after HR and THR (fishers exact test, p value=0.04). However there is no significant difference in quantity of patients returning to sporting activity after HR or THR including only patients that played sport before their surgery (fishers exact test, p value=0.35). There is a significant difference in the quantity of patients returning to work activity after HR and THR (fishers exact test, p value= 0.02). HR has a better outcome in patients participating in sport after surgery compared to THR however there is no benefit for patients that are active pre-operatively. More patients return to work after HR than THR.