๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐
-You're too young for a hip replacement.
-You're too active to slow down.
-And you've been told resurfacing isn't an option โ maybe because of your size, your sex (Female), or the risks of metal implants.
So what now?
Recently, I spent an afternoon at UCL with Mr. Kartik Logishetty
onsultant hip surgeon, exploring one of the most important advances I've seen in hip surgery in years: ceramic hip resurfacing.
Here's what it actually means for young, active patients with Hip OA, who have failed conservative management:
1๏ธโฃ No metal ions. Traditional metal-on-metal resurfacing carried a real risk of reactions in the surrounding tissue. Ceramic takes that concern off the table.
2๏ธโฃ Built to last. Ceramic is harder and smoother than metal, so the bearing surface stands up to years of running, lifting, training, and the demands of an active life.
3๏ธโฃ Your bone is preserved. Unlike a full hip replacement, resurfacing keeps your natural femoral head โ which matters if you're young and want to keep your options open down the line.
4๏ธโฃ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ-๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ. A group who, until now, have been consistently told they weren't suitable. That's changing.
I reviewed post-op cases with Mr Karthik and worked through some complex hip dysplasia cases โ the kind of conversations that directly shape how I guide my patients in my complex cases โ review clinic at Guys and St. Thomas Hospital.
A full discussion โ ceramic hip resurfacing vs traditional hip replacement, who it suits, and who it doesn't โ is coming soon on the Straight from the Hip podcast.
Genuine thanks to Mr Karthik and the UCL team for their time and generosity.
If you've been told your only option is a hip replacement โ or simply to "wait and see" โ it may be worth a second look.