Hip surgery

Types of hip surgery and treatments

There are many types of hip surgeries and treatments and it can be difficult to know where to start. Below you will discover all the different types of hip surgeries available at Practice Plus Group. You may want to have a look at our blog post about the different types of hip surgeries, or take a look at our Q&A video with Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kenan Dehne, which could help answer some of your questions about hip surgery.

Hip replacement surgery is a surgical procedure in which the hip joint is removed and replaced by a hip implant. It can be performed as a total replacement or a half replacement. Hip replacement is one of the most common orthopaedic operations.

A hip revision, or repeat hip replacement is a type of hip replacement that involves replacing a patient’s artificial hip joint if it has become loose, infected or worn out.

Arthritis is a term used by doctors to describe inflammation within a joint. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease. The surfaces within your joints become damaged so the joint doesn’t move as smoothly as it should. It causes joint pain and stiffness.

Treatment ranges from conservative means such as lifestyle changes to fusion, excision or replacement. During hip or knee replacement surgery, the orthopaedic surgeon replaces the damaged joint surfaces with artificial parts. It can reduce pain and improve your mobility.

This is the surgical reconstruction or replacement of an arthritic joint. Hip and knee replacements are the most common major orthopaedic procedures. The goals are to restore function and relieve knee or hip pain.

Injection to the hip is occasionally offered to either help with diagnosis or postpone the need for surgery. Steroid injections can ease inflammation, and Hyaluronate helps the damaged hip joint to move more smoothly.

The trochanteric bursa is a sack of fluid sitting between the prominent bone of the outer side of the hip and the skin. A trochanteric bursa injection is performed with x-ray or ultrasound guidance.

If you see signs that you need a hip replacement, you can go to your GP who may refer you to an orthopaedic consultant for an initial consultation. Following consultation and pre-operative screening, you will be set a date to come into hospital as an inpatient for hip replacement surgery.

Sometimes called total hip replacement or total hip arthroscopy, the operation replaces worn or damaged sections of the hip with an artificial hip joint. The surgery will be carried out either under general or spinal anaesthetic. Your surgeon will make an incision on the side of your hip, remove the damaged hip joint and replace it with an artificial one, this procedure usually takes between one and two hours. With our enhanced recovery pathway patients are able to return home any time from the day of surgery to two to three days post operation.

Benefits of having a hip operation or treatment

How quickly you return to your normal activities will vary from person to person, but with good physiotherapy and a planned approach to recovery you should quite quickly notice that everyday tasks become much easier. Whilst quality of life may have dipped pre-surgery, tasks like tying shoe laces, getting in and out of the car or bath, walking or standing, will improve. Most people find that they can resume hobbies that they previously enjoyed, such as golf or gardening after a hip replacement.

Read more about the benefits of hip replacement surgery.

At Practice Plus Group we practice the Enhanced Recovery Pathway (ERP) which is a modern, evidence-based approach that helps shorten recovery time after major surgery. Length of stay in hospital can be significantly shorter as a result of ERP, with patients able to return home any time from the day of surgery to two to three days post operatively.

Our physiotherapists begin working closely with patients within hours of joint replacement surgery, getting them up on their feet and growing their confidence. This early mobilisation and a return home reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis and infections, as well as making patients feel more comfortable. With this support you will be mobile enough to go home any time from the day of surgery two to three days after your operation.

Your physical therapist will give you exercises and instructions on how to use mobility aids such as crutches and sticks. For the first four to six weeks you will need crutches or sticks to get around and you will need to do your exercises to ensure your new hip joint gives you the best results. Most people are back to normal within two to three months, but it can take up to a year before you fully benefit from your new hip. It is up to individuals to do the physical therapy to make sure that the hip gets strong and has a full range of movement.

Learn more about the cost of hip surgery.

How much does hip surgery cost?

The cost of hip surgery varies according to the type of procedure. This can range from a total hip replacement to a revision of hip replacement. Total hip replacement at Practice Plus Group costs around £10,720.

What is the average private cost of hip replacement in the UK?

The cost of private hip replacements in the UK varies, depending on provider. Prices start at around £10,000 but can be as high as £15,000 depending on the area of the UK you live in. Prices also vary by provider and what’s included.

What’s included in the cost of hip surgery?

Our costs for private hip surgery include:

• High quality care
• Pre operative nurse review
• Prescriptions, dressings and equipment
• Anaesthetic
• Any overnight stay required
• Physiotherapy, pathology and histology needed whilst admitted
• Any post operative appointments required
• A named consultant from start to finish

Is hip surgery covered by health insurance?

Whether you have health insurance through an employer or your own private medical insurance, you can get referred for hip surgery at Practice Plus Group. Simply contact your insurance provider and ask them to pre-authorise your treatment.

There are 3 ways to access hip surgery at Practice Plus Group:

1. Pay for yourself
2. Private health insurance
3. NHS referral

Pay for yourself hip replacement surgery cost

If you choose to pay for yourself you can book an initial appointment for £95 by calling us or completing our self-pay enquiry form. The initial appointment includes x-rays and blood tests, so you won’t find any hidden costs. You can have your initial consultation within 2-3 weeks, and surgery around 4-6 weeks later. For more information you can view our National Price List or download our Private Patient Terms and Conditions.

Private insurance hip operation costs

To find out more about having hip surgery using your private insurance, you can call your provider and ask them to pre-authorise your care. Each provider will have its own approach, you can find a list of providers with contact information on our insured patients webpage.

NHS referral

If you have talked to your GP and have decided that you need hip surgery, you are able to choose where you have that NHS treatment. We can accept referrals from any eligible patient* in need of the treatments we offer, regardless of where you live in the UK, even if you have an existing health condition as long as it’s safe for us to treat you.

Talk to your GP about the options, and do some research to help you make the right choice for your needs. Consider things like how long you will have to wait for hip replacement or treatment at each hospital, what their clinical outcomes and infection rates are like and how the Care Quality Commission has rated the service.

If you have already been referred somewhere, but change your mind about where you’d like to go, you can still exercise your right to choose. Just tell your GP that you would like a new referral to another hospital.

*Patients must meet Practice Plus Group eligibility criteria and be ordinarily resident in the UK. Eligibility is checked by your GP.

Why choose Practice Plus Group?

At Practice Plus Group Hospitals we’re passionate about giving patients a positive experience and excellent clinical outcomes, with personalised care every step of the way. Whether you’re paying for yourself or using private medical insurance, with our short waiting times, unrivalled Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings and high levels of cleanliness and infection control, we’ll make sure you’re looked after. In fact, we were the first provider to have all services rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC.