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FAQ - How long do these procedures or prostheses last? Which is the best for me?
Another difficult question! There are so many prostheses out there, it is impossible to give dogmatic answers. As far as the hip is concerned, my personal position is to use metal-on-metal hip resurfacing (The Birmingham hip) on any patient who seems young and relatively active. Not only does this prosthesis or procedure have extremely low wear rates, it saves the femoral head and neck from amputation and therefore leaves them available for possible future use.
For elderly or more sedentary hip arthritis patients , I use a standard cemented metal on polyethylene total hip replacement, usually the Exeter device. Other similar cemented designs with a good track record include the Charnley, Stanmore, and Muller systems.
In between the 2 groups, my preference is to use a ceramic-on-ceramic bearing, with a variety of matching stems and cups.
For younger and more active knee replacement patients, I like to use the Oxinium system from Smith & Nephew. If you want to know why, study the pages attached to this link: Click here.
The aim at all times is to match the expected longevity of the implants to the life expectancy of the patient, and to preserve bone where possible. We are getting close to implants that can be expected to last the rest of the patient's lifetime, but this can never be guaranteed.
