Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Birmingham Hip, or How to Sell Fresh Hips to Boomers

Filed under: Orthopedic Surgery

In an effort to help their physically active baby-boomer patients, orthopedic surgeons are turning to a new but growing technique known as 'hip resurfacing,' Forbes is reporting. This bone-sparing procedure promises to last much longer than traditional hip replacements while allowing a great range of physical activity for the patient.

Currently approved by the FDA, Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System from Smith & Nephew is described by the company:

The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System implant has two parts:

A metal cap that locks onto the top of the femur and is a smooth ball on the outside.

A corresponding smooth metal socket or cup that is locked into the pelvic socket.

Now instead of grinding bone on bone, the resurfaced metal on metal hip joint glides with a smooth, natural motion.

Metal on metal hip joints have been shown to be significantly more wear resistant than the traditional metal on plastic hip joints used in traditional hip replacement surgery. Some of the other currently sold metal on metal joints are using new technology that has had limited if any clinical validation.

The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System metal on metal technology was based upon metal on metal joints that have demonstrated extremely low wear over decades of clinical use and now has over 8 years of use itself.

According to the Forbes article, we will see more hip resurfacing systems from other companies on the market soon.

More at Forbes . . .

BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System product page...

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