Hip osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage breaks down usually due to wear and tear as we age, leaving the bones to rub against each other.
However, it is also possible to be more susceptible to osteoarthritis if you have had previous injury or trauma to the joint, if you are overweight, female and have had past conditions that may damage the joint, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
Treating hip arthritis consists of taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication to help with pain and inflammation. Physiotherapy and exercise to help strengthen the muscles around the joint and loosing weight if you are overweight to reduce pressure on the joint.
If the above have not been successful or if your arthritic hip is advanced, then hip surgery to repair or replace the damaged hip joint can be considered.
You can book either a face to face or virtual consultation with Mr Makrides by contacting his secretary. You can find her details here.
Appointments are available via private medical insurance or paying for yourself. Click here for the most up to date self funding fees, and here for private medical insurance information.
There are many causes of knee pain, you can view the most common causes here.
If you have a knee condition that is not responding to non surgical treatment, you may require surgery.
The most common types of knee surgery are:
The meniscus is cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the thighbone and shinbone. There are different types of meniscus surgery, the most common being Meniscectomy surgery. This is key hole surgery (arthroscopy) to remove the torn meniscus. Sometimes the meniscus can be repaired instead of removed which in turn can decrease any future risk of arthritis. Another option is knee meniscus transplant surgery, where the damaged meniscus is completely removed and replaced with a donor meniscus. This is done via a knee arthroscopy and may be offered if you have not responded to other meniscus treatment.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common injuries in athletes. It is important as it stabilises the knee.
You may be suitable for treatment which involves taking tissue from other parts of your body to replace your ACL. Tissue can be taken from your patellar tendon, hamstring tendons or quadriceps tendon.vIt is also possible for donor tissue or an artificial graft to be used.
ACL reconstruction can be carried out via keyhole surgery (arthroscopy), which is a small tube with a light and camera on the end of it which is inserted via a small incision in the joint. Another small cut is made to enable the orthopaedic consultant to insert medical instruments to perform the surgery.
A Baker’s cyst is a fluid filled swelling on the back of the knee, which become inflamed and causes pain and clicking of the joint.
It can often go away with rest, anti-inflammatories and steroid injections but if the cyst ruptures and damages your knee you may need a knee arthroscopy to look inside and repair any damage.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative conditions of the knee due to wear and tear. Mild osteoarthritis may benefit from small changes such as loosing weight so there is less load on the knee joint, but the arthritis is advanced, a knee replacement may be offered.
You can read about the different types of knee replacements here
1 September 2023
1 August 2023
1 July 2023
