Who is a good candidate for hip resurfacing?

Hip resurfacing sounds like a smaller step than a full replacement, so it is easy to assume you qualify. A published source explains why that is not a given.

The short answer: not everyone qualifies

Cleveland Clinic states that not everyone is a good candidate for hip resurfacing. The deciding factor it names is bone health.

Why bone health matters here

Because your surgeon will not replace your entire hip joint, Cleveland Clinic says your bone health is more of a factor than in hip replacement. Specifically, your femur needs to be strong and healthy enough to be resurfaced.

That gives you a clear benchmark to ask about. Rather than asking whether the surgery is right in general, ask whether your femur is strong and healthy enough for it.

What to do before deciding

Write down the question about your femur and bring it to your surgeon. If you are weighing options from Elmwood Park, ask how the surgeon judged the answer.

Reading the full procedure page on hip resurfacing helps you prepare. A guide to hip arthritis and a page on hip replacement surgery cover the wider picture.

The standard: a good plan explains the choice

A sound recommendation tells you why resurfacing or replacement fits your bone. If nobody has addressed your femur, that is the gap to close before you agree to a date.