Do I Need Hip Surgery?

The best way to appreciate whether or not you will benefit from hip surgery is to have a consultation with Mr Latham. During the consultation you will be examined and Mr Latham will review up-to-date X-rays of your hips; he will then advise you on the most appropriate treatment for your condition.

Hip replacement operations are among the most successful operations in Orthopaedic Surgery, with at least 50,000 hip replacements (arthroplasties) being conducted in Britain each year.

The hip is a ball and socket joint. The ball part of the joint is called the head of the femur (the thigh bone) and the socket is called the acetabulum, which is part of the pelvis. When your hip is arthritic and painful the options for hip treatment are limited. Painkillers and anti inflammatories can help temporarily but often the side effects are unpleasant. Sometimes an injection of local
anaesthetic and steroid is used to relieve severe symptoms for a few months. With time the hip may stiffen and become less painful, but it may collapse causing the leg to shorten, making surgery more complex. Certain conditions may be amenable to keyhole surgery, usually after an MRI scan has been performed.

If the pain is getting worse and is affecting your mobility, then you might wish to consider having a hip replacement or undergoing hip resurfacing.