Surface replacement of the hip joint.

A total hip resurfacing prosthesis consisting of a high density polyethylene socket and a stainless steel cup was devised in 1974. Bone cement fixes the socket in the acetabulum but is not applied between the cup and the femoral head. Four types of sockets and 3 types of femoral cups with different diameters are available. Between April 1974, and October, 1977, 57 total hip replacements using socket-cup prosthesis were performed in 54 patients with various hip disorders. In this series, 36 patients with 37 of these replacements ranging in age from 40 to 68 years (mean 50 years) were examined. The length of follow-up ranged from 6 months to 3 1/2 years and the overall subjective and objective results were excellent. Pain was relieved in 97.3%. Walking ability was improved in 86.1%. With 6 months in almost all patients, mobility and the activities of daily living were significantly improved.