Hip resurfacing before 50years of age: A prospective study of 979 hips with a mean follow-up of 5.1years.

BACKGROUND: Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) is an alternative to total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the treatment of hip osteoarthritis in patients younger than 50 years. Data on revision rates after HRA are conflicting. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends performing only those hip arthroplasty procedures associated with 10-year revision rates no greater than 5% (0.5% per year). Follow-up studies can rapidly determine whether this criterion is met. The uncertainties surrounding revision rates after HRA prompted us to design a study of prospectively enrolled patients aiming (1) to determine the revision rate after HRA performed before 50years of age and (2) to assess the functional, radiological, and biological outcomes of HRA.

HYPOTHESIS: The revision rate after HRA performed before 50years of age meets the NICE criterion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing HRA before 50years of age were enrolled prospectively. The same implant was used in all patients. Functional outcomes were assessed based on the Harris Hip Score (HHS), Postel-Merle d'Aubigné (PMA) score, 12-item Oxford Hip Score (OHS), and UCLA activity score. Radiographic outcomes were assessed, and blood levels of chromium and cobalt were assayed.

RESULTS: The study included 936 patients (979 HRAs) with a mean age of 42.7years (16.4-50.0years) at surgery and a mean follow-up of 5.1years (range: 3.1-9.0 years). All four mean functional scores were significantly improved at last follow-up vs. baseline: HHS, 95.9 (39.0-100) vs. 44.3 (18.0-83.0); PMA score, 17.6 (6.0-18.0) vs. 11.7 (3.0-16.0); OHS, 14.3 (12.0-37.0) vs. 40.6 (25.0-60.0); and UCLA activity score, 7.8 (2.0-10.0) vs. 5.6 (1.0-10.0) (p<0.0001). Mean cup inclination in the coronal plane was 42.1° (25.0°-68.0°). Mean blood cobalt level was significantly higher at last follow-up than at baseline (1.36μg/L [0.05-8.2μg/L] vs. 0.61μg/L [0.01-3.6]) (p<0.001). No patient experienced dislocation. Revision was required for 17 hips and involved changing the implant in 12 (1.2%). The 10-year survival rate with implant change, as the endpoint was 98.7% (95%CI, 97.6%-99.3%), indicating that the NICE criterion was easily met.

DISCUSSION: The NICE criterion allows the rapid identification of prostheses with insufficient survival. HRA is theoretically associated with a high risk of aseptic mechanical loosening, as it is performed in young patients who have a high level of physical activity. Nevertheless, our study showed that implant survival after HRA was better than required by the NICE criterion. Thus, HRA is a valid alterative to THA in patients younger than 50years.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, prospective study with no control group.