The History

Hip resurfacing has always made intuitive sense and different types of prosthesis made from a variety of materials have been tested since early 1920’s. Modern hip resurfacing was first developed in the 1970’s. The early implants were manufactured with metal bearing on thin polyethylene, which experienced a high rate of failure. The failure was attributed to using the wrong material as well as early loosening due to poor manufacturing tolerances between the bearing surfaces, which caused early loosening of the components. Resurfacing made a comeback in the early 1990’s by changing the material and using Metal-on-Metal bearings. The results have been far more positive since manufacturers’ understanding of the materials has also improved.