What is hip replacement surgery?

Hip replacement surgery is the removal of a damaged hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint. The joint replacement will reduce pain and mobility issues you may have been experiencing from your degenerated hip joint.

Do I need a hip replacement?

Hip pain can be caused by many reasons from conditions such as osteoarthritis or a sports trauma injury. If you’re suffering with pain that is making it difficult to live your everyday life then you may require a hip replacement, if non surgical treatments such as anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, weight loss and physiotherapy have not helped.

Osteoarthritis is one of the main degenerative conditions that most commonly affects hips, knees and hands, causing them to become stiff and painful.

What are the different types of hip replacements?

A total hip replacement, also known as a total hip arthroplasty, is when the damaged bone and cartilage is completely removed and replaced with a prosthesis. The procedure involves replacing the femur head (ball of the thigh bone) and resurfacing the socket. A total hip replacement is most commonly performed when there is damage on both the femur head and inside the socket, a result of osteoarthritis of the hip.

A partial hip replacement is the replacement of the femur head (thigh bone) only. They are often performed on patients who have no degeneration of the hip joint but have suffered from a hip fracture or trauma.

Hip resurfacing is when the damaged surface of femur head and socket is removed and replaced. The procedure is usually offered to younger patients who are still active and fit.

Hip revision surgery is surgery to repair a damaged or worn artificial hip joint. A hip prosthesis usually lasts 10-20 years.

Minimally invasive hip replacement (Direct Superior Approach) is an innovative approach that spares the muscles essential for a normal gait. This results in a faster recovery, reduction in length of hospital stay and minimal scarring. Mr Makrides has performed over 200 hip replacements using this method and is the only surgeon in the Midlands to perform it.

Mako robotic assisted surgery is a state of the art tool used to create a personalised 3D model of the patients joint, which allows the surgeon to remove degenerative bone from within set pre-defined boundaries. The surgeon cannot move outside the boundaries which in turn makes the accuracy of the surgery extremely precise.