EDUCATION AND MEDIA

A high tibial osteotomy is a procedure performed where the arthritis is mainly on one side of the...

Hip Impingement Q&A with Highgate Hospital by Mr Gorav Datta

Hip replacement is the most successful joint replacement performed. It is done for end stage arthritis in the hip where symptoms of hip pain cause disability and loss of independence. A useful guide to hip symptoms is the Oxford Hip Score.

Hip replacement is the most successful joint replacement performed. It is done for end stage arthritis in the hip where symptoms of hip pain cause disability and loss of independence. A useful guide to hip symptoms is the Oxford Hip Score.

Hip replacement is the most successful joint replacement performed. It is done for end stage arthritis in the hip where symptoms of hip pain cause disability and loss of independence. A useful guide to hip symptoms is the Oxford Hip Score.

Tissue engineering techniques are improving now to the point where larger areas of joint damage can be treated. End-stage arthritis with severe pain is treated with knee replacement surgery where either part or whole of the joint is replaced with an artificial material. Joint replacement is a very successful operation in those with a relatively low level of function.

The popularity of running is on the rise. From a short run round the block for fitness to running a marathon it is important to look after yourself and your joints. Of course this isn’t (or shouldn’t be) limited to the immediate pre and post run warm up and cool down, looking after your joints, muscles and general health is of the upmost importance all year round.

Having a hip replacement is a big decision. You not only have to think about the operation and immediate post-operative recovery, but also the longer term effects. There are approximately 160,000 Hip replacement operations carried out in England and Wales every year so are common practice for most Hip Surgeons, however each replacement done should be tailored to the patient and their needs.

The first ‘phase’ of your post-operative physiotherapy will often be to build up the muscle tone and strength around the joint before progressing to more involved activities. Physiotherapists can also show you exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home. In the unfortunate event that you do run into difficulty or don’t progress and recover as well as is expected, your physiotherapist can also alert your surgeon.

Hip Surgery is on the increase. Upon first reading or hearing this sentence, many people will automatically think of total hip replacements. In fact Hip Arthroscopy (the second most commonly performed hip procedure)has also had a sharp rise in the number of operations performed.

This might sound like a silly question. Hip pain is pain felt in the hip surely!? In fact true hip pain is usually felt in the groin! Hip pain is a common problem that can lead to disability. It is important that a thorough and correct assessment is carried out in order to help with an accurate diagnosis. Although physical examination is an important part of diagnosing hip conditions, the use of imaging (X-ray/MRI/CT) is crucial to aiding this diagnosis.