Spectrum Health among first in MI to offer alternative hip replacement procedure

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

In May 2006, the FDA approved the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) implant and procedure for use in the US. In September, Dr. Thomas Malvitz, M.D. was in Birmingham, England training under the doctor who created the implant and surgical technique. Since then, Dr. Malvitz, chair of Spectrum Health's Orthopaedic Department and a physician with Orthopaedic Associates of Grand Rapids, has performed 25 BHR implant procedures.

BHR removes less bone than a traditional hip replacement, so it's an ideal alternative to a traditional hip replacement for active patients under 60. The surgeon shaves away a few centimeters of bone and caps it with an all-metal implant that replaces the patient's natural femoral head. Because it's a near match in size, it reduces the chance of post-operative dislocation, provides greater range of movement, and keeps the patient's leg the same length it was prior to surgery.

"Since the 1990s, over 50,000 BHR implants have been implanted in patients worldwide," says Dr. Malvitz. "Patients will live longer than the implant, so it will eventually have to be replaced. Studies show that the revision (replacement surgery) results are just as good as if the patient had never had surgery in the first place."

The surgical costs are the same as traditional hip replacement surgery, Dr. Malvitz says, but the implant itself is about $10,000, compared to $4,000 for the traditional implant. That cost will come down as more US manufacturers begin to produce the implant.

Dr. Gregory Galladay, M.D., a colleague of Dr. Malvitz's, is also trained in the BHR procedure.

Source: Dr. Thomas Malvitz, M.D., Spectrum Health and Orthopaedic Associates of Grand Rapids

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].

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