News & Blog

Information on all things hips and knees

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A hip replacement is surgery to removed your damaged hip joint and replace it with an artificial joint.

When is a hip replacement needed?

If you are experiencing pain, swelling and stiffness in your hip joint, and your day to day life is affected by it, then you may be considered for a hip replacement, if other treatments such as steroid injections or physiotherapy have not helped.

The most common reasons for hip replacement surgery are:

Where the cartilage that protects the joints breaks down over time and causes pain and inflammation.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

When your immune system attacks the healthy cells lining the joint which causes pain, inflammation and eventually damage to the joint.

  • Septic arthritis

A serious infection that can damage the joint.

  • Hip fractures

A fall or trauma which causes a small break in the hip. Overtime this may weaken the bone and lead to osteoporosis.

How is a hip replacement performed?

Usually performed under general anaesthetic or a spinal block, your orthopaedic hip surgeon will make an incision in the side of your hip. The damaged femur (ball) will be removed along with any damage to the socket. A prosthetic is fitted and held in place with a special ‘glue’ or ‘cement’.

Minimally invasive hip replacement surgery

Mr Makrides carries out minimally invasive hip replacement surgery which uses 1 or 2 very small incisions as opposed to a large one and special instruments to carry out the procedure. This is a beneficial technique used to reduce damage to the surrounding muscles and tissue which in turn results in a faster recovery time with less pain.

Mako robotic hip replacement surgery

Robotic surgery allows your hip surgeon to make a 3D model of your hip joint prior to surgery. During surgery the robotic arm guides your surgeon within the pre-defined area, using real time tracking feedback making it extremely precise, resulting in a faster recovery time, a shorter stay in hospital, less pain post surgery and a smaller scar.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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We all have fluid filled sacs known as bursa that cushion our joints. Bursitis occurs when they become inflamed.

Symptoms of knee bursitis are:

  • A painful knee
  • A swollen knee
  • The skin around the knee may be sore and tender

Treatments for knee bursitis:

You can try taking a break and resting your knee as well as using ice and anti inflammatories to reduce inflammation and pain.

It is also possible to have a steroid injection to reduce the swelling.

If your knee bursitis is particularly bad and not responding to the above, then an orthopaedic surgeon can drain it for you

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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Hip arthritis is when you experience hip pain and stiffness due to the cartilage that protects the joints wearing down.

Symptoms of hip arthritis are:

  • Pain in the hip
  • Swelling and tenderness in the hip

Due to pain and discomfort in your hip, your mobility may be reduced, resulting in other joints and muscles taking more strain than they usually would. It is common for the spine to take this strain and thus become tired and worn.

Treatment for hip arthritis

Treatment involves taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication to help ease pain and inflammation. Physiotherapy and exercise may help strengthen the muscles around 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 may be considered.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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Due to the sudden twists and turns when playing football, as well as the repetitive nature of running it is common for footballers to experience hip and knee pain.

4 common injuries to the hip and knee are:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury

The ACL connects the thighbone to the shinbone, stabilising the knee joint, and is a common injury in footballers due to quick twists and turns of the body.

Symptoms include difficulty bearing weight on the knee, swelling of the knee and pain and ‘popping’ in the knee.

ACL reconstruction surgery can be carried out via a minimally invasive approach, and consists of taking tissue from somewhere else in your body, or from a donor, to replace the damaged ligament.

Meniscus tear

The meniscus is cartilage between the shinbone and thighbone that absorbs shock. It can be injured through sudden twisting and turning of the knee.

Symptoms include sudden knee pain, swelling and difficulty bending or extending the knee.

Treatment can involve surgery to repair the damaged tissue, or surgery to replace the whole meniscus.

Hip labral tear

Hip labral tear is a tear to the cartilage holding the ball and socket of the hip together. This can be caused by repetitive fast changes in direction when running.

Symptoms involve pain and instability in the hip.

Surgery is usually performed via a hip arthroscopy and consists of stitching the torn tissue back together or reconfiguring the damaged tissue with tissue from elsewhere in your body, or from a donor.

Hip osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is when the cartilage that protects the hip joint wears over time as you age or if you are particularly active. It is not unusual for football players to develop hip osteoarthritis due to repetitive vigorous hip movement.

Symptoms include joint pain, difficulty walking and stiffness in the hip.

Hip replacement surgery can repair or replace the damaged hip joint with a prosthetic joint.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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The patellar tendon is a strong cord of fibrous tissue that attaches the front of the knee cap to the shinbone and helps to straighten the leg.
 
The most common causes of damage to the patellar tendon are direct impact and falls directly onto the kneecap, particularly if you are active and do a lot of running and jumping. The patellar tendon can also become damaged if it is weak as a result of tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis or an infection.

Symptoms of a patellar tendon injury

  • Pain and tenderness in the knee
  • Bruising
  • Trouble walking
  • Knee giving way
  • Your kneecap might move up slightly

Types of patellar tendon injuries

  • Partial patellar tear.

A small or partial tear can cause difficulty walking, and might respond to physiotherapy and wearing a brace.

  • Complete tear

A total or complete tear will prevent you from being mobile. You will likely require surgery to reattach the tendon to the kneecap

Surgical treatment for a patellar tear

Your orthopaedic knee surgeon will make an incision to the front of the knee and expose the tendon. Sutures are tied to the tendon and threaded through to the patellar to secure the damaged tendon back to its normal position on the kneecap.

Recovery from patellar tendon repair surgery can take up to 6 months.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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Bursitis is when the bursa, small fluid filled sacks that cushion the joint to help reduce friction, become inflamed and painful.

Symptoms of hip bursitis

  • Painful hip
  • Tender and achy hip
  • Swelling around the hip
  • Redness around the hip
  • The hip might be more painful when you put pressure on it

Treating hip bursitis

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication can help to reduce the swelling, along with resting and avoiding putting pressure on the hip joint.

Usually, you might be given a course of antibiotics if the bursitis is caused by an infection or steroid injections to help reduce the swelling. If the bursitis is severe then the bursa may need to be drained or surgically removed.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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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.

Typically, symptoms of arthritis of the hip present as pain, swelling and tenderness of the joint. It is possible to experience knee pain, as well as groin pain if your hip is arthritic because the nerve that supplies the knee runs past the hip, which may be inflamed and sore.

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.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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A hip fracture is a break in the femur (top of the thigh bone). Fractures are often caused by falls and are more common in the elderly. Some conditions such as Osteoporosis can weaken the bones and cause hip fractures.

Symptoms of a hip fracture

  • Hip pain
  • Difficulty bearing weight on your leg
  • Trouble moving and lifting your leg

Treating a hip fracture

Usually surgery is required for a hip fracture. Sometimes the hip can be supported with plates and screws, however most cases may need a hip replacement. The type of surgery you will be offered will depend on your age, your health, how bad the fracture is and the condition of your bones.

Can I prevent a hip fracture?

As most hip fractures occur in the elderly or those with osteoporosis, you could use a walking aid for support and perform exercises to help strengthen the muscles around your joints.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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Both hip resurfacing and hip replacements are operations to help relieve hip pain. Hip pain is often caused by the cartilage that cushions the bones wearing down over time and causing pain and inflammation.

Hip resurfacing?

Hip resurfacing is where the damaged surface of the femur (ball of the thighbone), and the socket are removed and reshaped. This retains most of the bone and is usually offered to younger, more active patients. Hip resurfacing is more commonly performed on men as women won’t benefit from the procedure for as long due to levels of oestrogen changing after the menopause.

During hip resurfacing surgery, your consultant orthopaedic surgeon will:

  1. Make a small incision in the thigh to access the hip joint
  2. Shave the damaged bone and cartilage from the femur (ball of the thighbone)
  3. Attach a smooth metal cap to the ball
  4. Remove the damaged bone and cartilage from the hip socket
  5. Attach a metal shell into the hip socket
  6. Move the femur (ball of the thighbone) into the hip socket
  7. Close the incision with stitches

Hip resurfacing can be quicker to recover from than a traditional hip replacement and can be effective long term relief from hip pain for younger more active patients.

Hip replacement?

A hip replacement is where the whole joint is removed and replaced with an artificial one. It is a common procedure and offered to older patients with significant joint damage and severe symptoms.

During hip replacement surgery, your hip surgeon will:

  1. Make a small incision in the thigh to access the hip joint
  2. Remove the damaged femur (ball of the thighbone) and socket
  3. Implant the replacement socket
  4. Insert a short metal stem with a ball on it into the ball of the thighbone
  5. Close the incision with stitches.

A hip replacement can hugely reduce pain, with almost all patients getting complete, or near complete relief from arthritic hip pain, and thus increased mobility.

Minimally invasive hip surgery

Mr Makrides offers minimally invasive hip surgery using the Direct Superior Approach. This avoids damage to surrounding muscles and tissue which results in a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery time.

Robotic assisted hip surgery

Mr Makrides can also perform hip replacement surgery using the Mako robotic arm assisted surgery. This is carried out at Spire Little Aston Hospital and allows your surgeon to use the robotic arm to guide him along pre-defined areas using real time tracking which adjusts to the smallest of movements. This results in extremely precise surgery with minimal blood loss, scarring and post operative pain.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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Keeping your bones and joints healthy can help to prevent serious damage if you are injured or especially from wear and tear as we age due to our bodies loosing bone density over time. Women are more at risk of bone and joint conditions such as osteoarthritis once they have gone through the menopause.

Foods for bone and joint health

It is beneficial to consume calcium rich foods as the only way our bodies get it, is by our diet. Calcium rich foods include:

  • Dairy such as milk, cheese and yoghurt
  • Green leafy vegetables such as broccoli and kale
  • Fortified foods such as bread and soy
  • Nuts

Alcohol and carbonated drinks can prevent your body from absorbing calcium.

Supplements for bone and joint health

Vitamin D is important for your bone health as it helps the body absorb calcium. Most people in the UK do not get enough vitamin D, especially in the winter months so it might be worth taking a supplement.

Exercises for bone and joint health

Exercise can help reduce the load on your joints by helping you loose any excess weight, as well as build the muscles around the joint.

Low impact activities such as swimming are good as they don’t put stress son the joints as running does.

How do I book a consultation?

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.


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Welcome to the Midland Hip and Knee Clinic based at Spire Parkway in Solihull, Spire Little Aston in Sutton Coldfield and Spire South Bank in Worcester. We offer Self-funding and Private Insurance payment options.

Copyright 2022. Panos Makrides - Specialist Hip and Knee Surgeon