In 2004 we described the ten-year prospective results of 38 total hip replacements using the Furlong hydroxyapatite-ceramic-coated femoral component in 35 patients < 50 years old. We have now reviewed the surviving 35 arthroplasties in 33 patients at a mean of 16 years (10.3 to 19.9). The mean age of the surviving patients at the time of operation was 41.3 years (26.0 to 49.0). Of these, eight have undergone revision of their acetabular component for aseptic loosening. None of the femoral components has had revision for aseptic loosening giving a survival rate of 100% at 16 years (95% confidence interval 89% to 100%).

The Furlong hydroxyapatite-ceramic-coated femoral component gives excellent long-term survival in young and active patients.

We report the outcome at a minimum of five years of 110 consecutive metal-on-metal Birmingham Hip Resurfacing arthroplasties in 98 patients. The procedures were performed between October 1999 and June 2002 by one surgeon. All patients were followed up clinically and radiologically. The mean follow-up was 71 months (60 to 93). Revision of either component was defined as failure.

The mean Harris Hip score at follow-up was 96.4 (53 to 100). The mean Oxford hip score was 41.9 (16 to 57) pre-operatively and 15.4 (12 to 49) post-operatively (p < 0.001). The mean University of California Los Angeles activity score was 3.91 (1 to 10) pre-operatively and 7.5 (4 to 10) post-operatively (p < 0.001).

There were four failures giving a survival at five years of 96.3% (95% confidence interval 92.8 to 99.8). When applying a new method to estimate narrowing of the femoral neck we identified a 10% thinning of the femoral neck in 16 hips (14.5%), but the relevance of this finding to the long-term outcome remains unclear.

These good medium-term results from an independent centre confirm the original data from Birmingham.

Introduction: The hip resurfacing in younger patients is being performed more frequently in the UK. At the same time conventional Total Hip Replacement (THR) is also being performed.. We carried out a study to compare the patient satisfaction and outcome following Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR) in patients below the age of 55 years.

Methods: There were 93 BHR in 73 patients and 74 THR in 64 patients performed between February 1997 to June 2005.. Retrospective evaluation of notes and complications were identified. We carried out our study using Oxford Hip score and Modified WOMAC questionnaire by postal and telephonic survey.

Results: We found that mean length of stay was 4.5 days for BHR and 6.4 days for THR patients. (P< 0.0001) The dislocation rate was 0% for BHR as oppose to 4% for THR. (P< 0.05) The mean Oxford Hip score improved from pre-operative 43 to 14 for BHR as oppose to 48 to 22 for THR patients. The mean modified WOMAC score improved from 21 to 8.4 for BHR as oppose to 25 pre-operative score to 12 for THR. We also found early and sustained improvement in these scores for BHR as compare to THR during their follow-up within 6 months to 8 years. The improvement in pain score was 100% following BHR as opposed to 84% for THR. Following BHR 70% patients were very active or active as oppose to only 30% of THR patients. Return to the work and sporting activities following BHR was at a mean of 9 weeks as oppose to 14 weeks following THR. (P < 0.05) The level of satisfaction was 98% following BHR as oppose to 84% following THR. (P=0.356).