vijay bose has performed over 300 of them. difference between a hip resurfacing and hip replacement, which is the standard operation performed in the united states. he said his patients usually recover faster because his procedure is far less radical and doesn't involve cutting the thigh bone. >> and that's a model of a pelvis, yeah. and that's the femur, or thigh bone, as we call it, and that's the hip joint. in a hip replacement, unfortunately, this bone has to be chopped off. >> instead, bose fits a metal cap over the end, which fits into a metal socket in the hip. the result, he says, is that patients end up with enough mobility to do virtually anything. so my patients, you know, play football, basketball, whatever you want. not a problem. >> right crutch, then the left leg. >> until the fda approves it, the only way to have this operation in the u.s. is by getting into a clinical trial. but be warned: it isn't cheap. >> how much does it cost in the states? >> i believe it costs something from 28,000 to 32,000 u.s. dollars