Birmingham hip resurfacing arthroplasty:: Short-term clinical and radiographic outcome

Background:: Aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcome of the first 300 consecutively implanted Birmingham Hip Resurfacing arthroplasties (BHR) in our department. Methods: 300 BHR arthroplasties were performed in 263 patients until May 2003. Primary clinical endpoints of the investigation were the implant survival and the total Harris hip score, assessed at the last examination. Results: At a median follow-up time of 24 months the Kaplan/Meier survivor estimate was 98%. 6 implant revisions were performed due to infection (2), malposition (1), femoral neck fracture (1), primary unstable cup (1) and chronic pain (1), respectively. The median Harris hip score improved from 51 points to 96 points at last follow-up. No hip showed radiographic signs of aseptic implant loosening. Conclusions: The preliminary experience with the BHR for the younger adult requiring hip arthroplasty is encouraging, but has to be reproduced in the long-term.