News & Blog

Information on all things hips and knees

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Knee injuries in rugby are very common due to nature of the sport which can be gradual wear and tear or damage from impact and trauma.

Here we discuss two common knee injuries rugby player may experience:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury

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

Symptoms include:

  • Difficulty bearing weight on the knee
  • Swelling of the knee
  • Pain and ‘popping’ in the knee

Treatment consists of ACL reconstruction surgery which 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 changes in direction.

Symptoms include:

  • Sudden knee pain
  • Swelling of the knee
  • Difficulty bending or extending the knee

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

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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If you are experiencing groin pain, you may actually have a hip condition and the pain is radiating downwards. If you are older it may be due to arthritis or fracture. If you are younger you may have hip pain as a result of an underlying condition such as hip dysplasia or hip impingement.

Arthritis of the hip

Osteoarthritis is when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time which causes pain as the bones will rub against each other.

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip is pain, tenderness and stiffness.

Most commonly osteoarthritis is caused from wear and tear as we age, being overweight, having other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. It is also more common in women than men.

If your symptoms are milk you can try to treat your symptoms with lifestyle changes such as loosing weight, taking anti-inflammatories or steroid injections. However, if your symptoms are interfering with the enjoyment of your daily life and the joint is badly damaged then surgery can be explored.

Hip replacement surgery, also known as an arthroplasty, is a common procedure where the damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial one.

Depending on the condition of your knee you may be offered a total hip replacement, or a partial hip replacement.

Mr Makrides specialised in minimally invasive hip surgery to reduce your hospital stay and increase your recovery time, as well as Mako robotic assisted hip replacement.

Hip fracture

A hip fracture is a break in the top of the thigh bone, usually caused by falling or a direct injury.

You may experience hip pain, difficulty moving your leg or bearing weight.

You may need hip surgery to secure the joint with plates while it heals, or you may need a hip replacement if the break is particularly bad.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)

DDH is checked for at birth, however mild to moderate cases can be missed and only diagnosed in adulthood after an investigation into what is causing your hip pain.

DDH causes the hip socket to be shallow and not sit flush with the ball. If diagnosed later in life you may have arthritis at a younger age. A hip arthroscopy is usually performed to stabilise the hip joint.

Hip impingement

Hip impingement or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), is when something causes the bones in the hip joint to rub against each other, such as a difference in the size compatibility of the ball and socket, which can cause pain.
 
It is often mistaken for other conditions such as sprains and many people may suffer with hip pain before a full diagnosis. It can cause arthritis at a younger age. You may have a hip arthroscopy to shave off excess bone to align the ball and socket.

Labral tear

A labral tear is an injury to the cartilage that holds the ball and socket of the hip together. It is often the result of conditions such as hip dysplasia or hip impingement. It can cause pain and instability in the hip joint and increase the risk of developing arthritis at a younger age.

Surgery is usually performed via a hip arthroscopy to repair the damage. If you have an underlying conditions such as hip dysplasia or hip impingement then you may also have treatment for them at the same time.

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 Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) joins the thigh bone to the shin bone at the knee joint, and provides stability to the joint.

Causes of an ACL tear

An ACL tear and other knee ligament injuries are often caused by playing sports such as football, netball and rugby due to the nature of sudden twists, turns and overextending the leg.

Symptoms

If you have a ACL tear you will probably be experiencing pain and your knee giving way, as well as have limited mobility to your leg.

ACL reconstructive surgery

Surgery can consist of repairing the torn ligament by stitching it back together, or using a graft of tissue from elsewhere in your body or a donor. The joint surface or cartilage may also be repaired if it is damaged. You will then have physiotherapy rehabilitation to help build your strength back up again and get back you on your feet and active again.

Surgery can be performed using a minimally invasive approach (key hole surgery) to reduce your stay in hospital and speed up your recovery time.

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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Sports enthusiast Neil experienced sudden knee pain which was so severe it inhibited his mobility and left him unable to climb the stairs and enjoy his daily life.

After consultation with Mr Makrides from Midland Hip and Knee Clinic, he had a partial knee replacement and was back at the gym squatting just 3 months after his operation, and has recently, 4 months after his knee surgery, posted the fastest rowing times recorded by Concept 2’s contributors (ages 60-69) around the world so far this season at 1000 and 2000 metres.

Neil, experienced popping and clicking in his right knee for a few years until he suffered a severe sharp pain which left him in excruciating pain and unable to bear weight on his joint, making his job as a Gym Manager untenable, and no longer able to pursue his love of exercise and physical challenges.

After visiting his GP and being given a course of anti-inflammatories for arthritic wear and tear of the knee joint, he had a short period of improved mobility but decided to pursue surgery to enable him to get back to his active lifestyle.

Neil was treated by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Panos Makrides at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull. His main desire from the outcome of surgery was to get into the top ten UK times for 2000 metres in his age group on Concept 2’s indoor rowing ranking, after not being able to progress rowing over the past 2 years due to his knee pain.

Neil says, ‘Mr Makrides, while managing my expectations, reassured me that normal function and my rowing were achievable.’

Following surgery, Neil was able to work through the post operative rehabilitation exercises well enough to be discharged within 24 hours, and continue follow up physiotherapy appointments to aid his recovery further. 

Just a few months after his partial knee replacement surgery, he was back on the rowing machine and posted the fastest time recorded by Concept 2’s contributors (ages 60-69) around the world so far this season at 1000 and 2000 metres.

Neil says, ‘I’ve been shocked how quickly I have been able to perform at an excellent level. I am delighted to think that within 10 months of a partial knee replacement I have every chance of setting a new GBR 1000m record, aiming to challenge for the 2000m record and maybe have a chance of qualifying to compete at C2’s World Championships in Toronto in Feb 2023’.

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