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I still use the BHR, Conserve Plus, and Biomet Recap. I think the devices are very similar, but the BHR has the longest track record, which is very important to me. The other devices do have the benefit of more sizes than the BHR for right now (at least in the US), so there are some patients for whom they fit better.

 

While all are high carbon cobalt chrome alloys there is no way to know the slight variations if any in the metals. The manufacturers are all very secretive about the specifics for obvious reasons (to keep it out of the hands of the competition). That said in the short term studies as well as on the testing machines there haven't been many significant differences between the different manufacturers products. I think this will also be true over the long term but only time will tell.

I feel the major differences will be in the instruments used to guide the surgeon during the implantation. They should all be adequate to make reproducible results but some may be easier then others. I have been using the Conserve plus but so I can make an informed decision plan on taking training with the other two implants (Biomet and BHR) in the next few months. After seeing them all in surgery I will then make a final decision which I like best.

As far as a patient is concerned I would pick a surgeon you are comfortable with and let them use the implant they are happy with. By far and away the surgeons skills are more important then the particular implant. I wouldn't worry about ranking the devices because as of now there is no data to distinguish one as better then the others.

Scott Rubinstein M.D.
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute
Chicago, Illinois

 

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