Surface Prosthesis

From a certain age, the parts of the body with a lot of bone debris end up manifesting in the form of pain and conditioning the life of the patient. In the case of requiring surgery, the choice of a good prosthesis is essential for the recovery of the person. Next, the traumatology expert, Dr. Rafael Llopis, explains all the details about the surface hip prosthesis.

Surface Hip Prosthesis

The goal of surface hip prostheses is to preserve the maximum amount of bone possible for future wear-induced replacement parts. The type of prosthesis most used and with more studies of monitoring of more than 15 years, is denominated BHR (Birmingham Hip Resurfacing).

This type of prosthesis is aimed at men under the age of 65, with good bone quality and who want to exercise. Even so, one should be aware of the risk of increased free ions in blood and local reactions that may occur.

In the case of patients with bone deformities, avascular necrosis, bone cysts, renal disease, metal allergy, among other pathologies, should be considered patients not candidates for surface prostheses in order to avoid potential problems that can cause them metal used.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of this hip prosthesis are the bone conservation, the decrease of the wear and the reduction of the degree of incidence of a dislocation.

On the contrary, the most important disadvantages are those derived from the friction between the two metal parts. After investigation, considerable local reactions have been detected in chromium and cobalt alloys used in the manufacture of total hip prostheses with metal-metal friction torque. Conventional metal-metal prostheses have fallen into disuse and are virtually withdrawn from the market. The only hip prostheses accepted , and with caution, are those of surface, since it does not present an alternative of pair of friction.

Surgery and postoperative

The insertion of a surface hip prosthesis is more laborious than in the case of conventional prostheses. In relation to this point, it is important to note that the correct placement is fundamental for optimum operation.

Regarding the postoperative it is similar to that of conventional prostheses. The income oscillates between two and four days and the risk of transfusion is lower than in the conventional ones. On the other hand, the use of canes lasts between two and four weeks and the complete recovery occurs between one and three months, depending on each patient.