Introduction: Hip resurfacing has been promoted as a procedure that results in a better outcome in sporting and work activity after surgery compared to total hip replacement (THR). Recently more standard THRs have offered the same large metal on metal joint articulation but using a standard stem.

Method: Questionnaires were analysed from 125 metal on metal total hip replacement (THR) and 108 hip resurfacing (HR) patients regarding participation in sport and returning to work at a minimum of a year after surgery.

Results: The two groups had similar mean age (61 vs 60) and pre-operative Oxford hip scores (41 vs 38). Seventy-one of 125 THR (57%) patients compared to 76 of 108 (70%) HR patients participated in sporting activity in the year after their surgery (fishers exact test, p value=0.04). When including only patients that played sport before their surgery 54 of 75 (72%) THR and 66 of 83 (80%) HR patients returned to same sporting activity level after their surgery (fishers exact test, p value=0.35). Of the patients that worked before surgery 35 of 44 (80%) THR patients compared to 70 of 74 (95%) HR patients returned work to after their surgery (fishers exact test, p value= 0.02).

Conclusion: There was no difference in the proportion of patients who played sport prior to their surgery returning to sport. After hip resurfacing however more people took up a sporting activity and at a year post surgery a greater number of patients were taking part in sport after a hip resurfacing. Patients with a hip resurfacing were more likely to return to work after surgery.