And there are serious risks, including fracture of the neck of the thigh bone because it is hard for surgeons to preserve the blood supply to the bone during surgery. Many people do not qualify for resurfacing, if they have kidney problems or weak bones from osteoporosis or are women of childbearing age. The resurfacing devices are "metal on metal," which means metal ions can get into the bloodstream and potentially affect the fetus.
The ideal solution, said Millis, is to have joint-saving surgery, which, if done in time, can often delay or prevent the need for total hip replacement or resurfacing. Most people who have osteoarthritis develop it because of mechanical problems - an alignment problem or an abnormality in the shape of the hip joint.
