Femoral neck remodelling after hip resurfacing surgery: a radiological study

Background Narrowing of the femoral neck under the femoral component of the hip resurfacing has been noted previously and has raised concern. In this study we examined the X‐rays of patients following Birmingham hip resurfacing surgery at 6‐years follow‐up. Methods Bony changes proximally and distally were measured. Fifty‐two patients were available for evaluation. Results There were 40 (76.9%) men and 12 (23.1%) women, with a mean age of 52 years (25–64). The unoperated contralateral femoral neck was measured as a control. We found femoral neck narrowing proximally in 82.7% of patients and distally in 26.9% and on the contralateral side in 54.5%. The average narrowing was 3.6%. Widening was observed proximally in 17.3% and distally in 73.1% and on the contralateral side in 45.5%. The average widening was 3.9%. Four of the 52 patients had proximal narrowing exceeding 10% of the femoral neck diameter, and one of the 52 patients had inferior narrowing exceeding 10%. Conclusion Gender, body mass index, component size and age did not affect remodelling. We conclude that the observed findings are likely to be a manifestation of a generalized remodelling response in the femoral neck rather than a localized and isolated narrowing at the junction of the component and the femoral neck.