We wanted to evaluate more than 5 years of the clinical follow-up results of Birmingham hip joint resurfacing arthroplasty.

20 cases of Birmingham resurfacing arthroplasties were performed in 17 patients (8 males and 9 females) between August 2001 and April 2002. Eleven patients had avascular necrosis of the femoral head, nine had osteoarthritis and two had ankylosing spondylitis. All the patients could be followed-up and the mean age at the time of operation was 35.9 (range: 22~65) years. Clinical evaluation was done with using the Harrris hip score; the osteolysis, migration of the femoral component and acetabular cup, the presence of femoral neck fracture and the secondary changes around the components were evaluated according to the radiological follow up findings.

The mean preoperative Harris hip score of 38 points was improved to 94 points at the time of the final follow-up. Complications developed in the avascular necrosis patients, in the two cases of femoral neck fracture and in one case of incomplete sciatic nerve palsy. There was no osteolysis or movement of the femoral cap, peg and acetabular cup on the radiological evaluation. Some degree of periacetabular osteoporosis and some change of the trabecular pattern were found in all cases due to the secondary change from mechanical stress.

Birmingham resurfacing hip arthroplasty provided excellent clinical and radiological results, and especially in the osteoarthritis patients. Special concern might be needed for the patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head and for protecting the sciatic nerve.