What hip replacement can provide the highest return to elite sports?

This is a difficult question. Most hip replacement surgeons cannot guarantee elite level athletes a return back to competition sports. In fact, I cannot make that same guarantee. However, there is a type of hip replacement that has a high level of return to extreme activity. It is called a hip resurfacing.

Like everything in life, hip resurfacing has benefits and risks. Briefly, the benefit is that up to 70% of professional/elite level athletes can return to play at their same level for at least one season. This is definitely not the case for a standard hip replacement.

This procedure is not without risk. The operation is bigger, incision is larger, it is a metal on metal implant which puts individuals at risk for metal debris complications, and it poses higher risks in females for femoral neck fracture.

In a young, extremely active individual, hip resurfacing could be an option for patients, but they must understand the different risks this surgery comes with.