Resurfaced hips converted to THA similar to primary

Converting resurfacing arthroplasty hips to THA required similar operative times and length of postoperative hospitalization.

Hips previously treated with metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasty that require conversion to total hip arthroplasty can achieve short-term clinical and radiographic results similar to primary total hip replacement, according to a study by California researchers.

"The theoretical advantage of easy 'revisability' of a resurfacing arthroplasty is supported by our results," the study authors wrote. "With the numbers studied, the procedure was similar to primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in terms of operative time and blood loss. The radiographic results after conversion were also similar to those in the primary [THA] group in terms of osseointegration, the position of the center of rotation, femoral offset, stem position, and limb-length equality."