Hip replacement technology has come a very long way; it remains the most successful orthopaedic operation. For patients suffering with the pain of hip arthritis, a hip replacement can be life changing. It’s now possible to perform the surgery via the “direct anterior approach”, which involves a small incision of just 3-4 inches at the front of the hip joint, and far less damage to muscles and tendons, because they can be gently parted. For the patient, this means less pain after the surgery, a shorter stay in hospital, faster muscle recovery, a reduced risk of dislocation, less scar tissue, and overall, a quicker recovery. Anterior approach hip replacement surgery is technically demanding and requires a special operating table and Professor Ali Ghoz is highly experienced in this method of hip replacement surgery.
Knee osteoarthritis is extremely common; over 100,000 knee replacements are carried out each year in the UK. When knee osteoarthritis is in its early stages, exercise, physiotherapy, injection treatments and painkillers may enable a patient to cope and live well. For some patients, however, the burden of knee arthritis pain necessitates knee replacement surgery (aka knee arthroplasty).
Knee arthritis can affect one, or all three “compartments” of the knee. Partial knee replacement is a good option for patients who have arthritis confined to a single compartment, which is usually the medial (inside) compartment. The worn cartilage and bone surfaces between the end of the medial thigh and the shin bones are replaced with metal components, with a highly durable plastic spacer placed between them. The accuracy of the placement of the components is vital, and Professor Ghoz uses robotic techniques and tailored “jigs” to ensure each patient has a highly tailored and very
accurate insertion of the components.
In patients who have persistent and severe arthritis in more than one compartment of the knee, a total knee replacement may be recommended.
A traditional total knee replacement involves a long incision (typically 8-10 inches in length), which passes vertically down through the centre of the knee cap. Professor Ghoz is skilled in cutting edge, minimally invasive surgery. This involves an off-centre incision, a smaller scar, and shorter hospital stay with less pain. The longevity of knee replacements is excellent, and a patient can expect that their replacement will last between 25 and 30 years.
