Preoperative Templating in Hip Resurfacing: Impact on Implant Sizing and Component Positioning

Over the past decade, hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) has seen a resurgence in popularity due to an increased success rate attributed to numerous novel techniques. Preoperative digital templating is an effective technique that overcomes the technical difficulties of HRA. However, literature on this technique is sparse. Our study aims to fill this void by exploring the impact of preoperative digital templating on implant sizing and component positioning in hip resurfacing surgeries.

This is a retrospective study of patients operated with HRA from 2019 to 2024 in our institution (Hôpital Nord, Marseille). Pre- and postoperative data were collected to determine the size of the implants and their positioning on preoperative templates and postoperative X-rays.

There was no difference in the optimal positioning of implants and the same leg-length discrepancy when individuals with intraoperative changes in implant size from the templates were compared to those with templates that were identical to the postoperative implant sizes. No correlation was found between the changes in the size of the implants and covariates, such as age, side, body mass index, and etiology of the disease.

This study highlights the need for intraoperative adjustments of the implant size and optimal positioning during a hip resurfacing surgery, taking into account the crucial information revealed by a preoperative digital templating to optimize the success rate.