The potential for bone remodeling in the proximal femur may be detrimental to the long term survival of resurfacing prosthesis.

A retrospective analysis of radiological changes in the femoral neck was undertaken for 96 patients (100 hips, 76 males and 24 females), with a minimum of 5 years following hip resurfacing. The mean age at surgery was 53.8 years. Femoral neck diameter was measured post-operatively, at 2 and 5 years. Pre and post-operative head to neck ratios, femoral head-shaft offset, femoral neck and implant stem-shaft angles were also measured.

Two groups of patients were identified with differing rates of reduction in their femoral neck diameter. Over the first 2 years, Group A (24%) mean reduction was 2.02mm/year while Group B (76%) mean reduction was 0.33 mm/year. At 5 years, the Group A mean reduction was 5.64mm (sd±2.03mm) while Group B reduction was 1.16mm, (sd±0.97mm). The difference was significant at both time points (p< 0.01). Larger head-neck ratios were observed in the group A, both pre and post operatively (p< 0.01).

Finite Element Analysis has predicted stress shielding underneath the femoral head and loading of the mini stem. This may explain bone resorption underneath the shell and remodeling around the mini stem. Compromised blood supply of the retained epiphyseal remnant may also play a part in femoral head resorption. Group A with a larger proportion of females and femoral heads will potentially have a larger proportion of epiphyseal remnant retained. A further mechanism that could be influential in the development of neck thinning and bone resorption may be due to fluid pumping mechanism causing osteolytic erosion at the bone cement interface.

In conclusion, femoral neck thinning is a phenomenon of unproven aetiology which is affecting almost 25% of our resurfacing cases. Further investigations are needed to determine its aetiology and remedy.