BHR and Hemi-Resurfacing

The modern BHR version of hip resurfacing is quite different than the earlier surgery performed in the US. The older hip resurfacing surgery, called a hemi-resurfacing, only placed a metal cap on the head of the femur bone. The metal cap then protected the femur bone, but rubbed the bone inside the acetabulum of the hip. The metal cap caused wear and tear against the bone in the actabulum and often required early revisions of the original surgery to a Total Hip Replacement (THR).

The new BHR hip resurfacing surgery includes having a metal cap placed on the head of the femur bone, but also a metal cup placed into the acetabulum of the hip. The hip devices are called Metal on Metal (MOM) hips because both parts are metal. Therefore, the only friction caused by the hip device is metal against metal, there is no bone wear as in the older versions of hemi-resurfacing operations.

Mr. McMinn of the UK is the designer of the current BHR design and has been performing hip resurfacing surgeries for more than 15 years. Katie Ellis was one of Mr. McMinn's pioneering patients in 1991 and is still active with her original BHR.