Ramsay Health Care UK (formerly Capio) is one of the leading providers of private healthcare in the UK with 22 private hospitals. Hip replacement is one of a wide and comprehensive range of procedures undertaken in
Ramsay Hospitals.
Why choose Ramsay for your hip replacement operation?
The Ramsay operating theatres utilise ultra clean-air technology, minimising the risk of hospital infection with bacteria such as MRSA.
24 hour clinical support is provided by resident medical offers. These are fully qualified doctors who provide on site support to the consultant orthopaedic surgeon who carries out your hip replacement operation.
All patient bedrooms are en-suite with TV and radio facilities.
There is on site free car parking for you and your visitors.
All hospitals have a well equipped physiotherapy department with wide range of modern physiotherapeutic equipment to enable a rapid recovery from hip surgery.
Benefit from new hip replacement techniques available at Ramsay Hospitals
Resurfacing hip arthroplasty
Whilst perhaps one of the most technically challenging hip operations, large diameter metal on metal hip resurfacing has the attraction of low wear rates combined with a significant reduced dislocation rate. The operation is especially suitable for active young male patients who wish to continue with physically demanding jobs and who also hope to continue their enjoyment of leisure activities such as soccer, horse riding, skiing and racquet sports.
Female patients are ideal candidates if pre-menopausal and are not intent on childbearing within two years of the surgery. (There has been slight concern regarding cobalt metal ions being released during pregnancy.
Minimally invasive hip surgery
Standard hip replacement approaches involve large scale incisions of over thirty centimetres with soft tissue and muscle trauma. As a consequence the rehabilitation period is prolonged.
Minimally invasive hip surgery (incisions of twelve centimetres or less) reduces both the size of the skin incision but also the amount of muscle release necessary for implantation of the prostheses. The technique should not compromise the orientation of the implants however.
The benefits to the patient are a decreased need for post-operative blood transfusion and analgesia with a reduced hospital stay and a more rapid rehabilitation pathway
Cementless fixation and new surface bearing techniques
For many years in Europe, hips have usually been cemented into place with the cement acting as a grout between the host bone and stainless steel and polyethylene implants.
After successful use in dental surgery, bio-active calcium crystal coatings have been used to cover the surfaces of hip replacement implants. These coatings stimulate osteocyte (bone cell) growth onto roughened surfaces following an initial “press fit”. Recently published research has shown that the fixation is as good if not better with such coatings and the implants particularly attractive in younger patient whose anatomy is not compatible with resurfacing.
New polyethylenes, ceramics and metals such as Titanium and Tantalum also have encouraging roles to play in hip replacement design. These materials have been shown to have wear rates, enhanced bio-compatibility and biomechanical properties closer to that of the axial skeleton.
It is hoped that these technological improvements will produce an improved lifespan of an individual patient’s joint replacement putting off the timing and need for a revision operation.
Cemented hip replacement
Even with the above advances, certain patients, particularly the more mature, have poor quality bone or osteoporosis into which cementless implants cannot be securely fitted. For these patients pressurised cementing techniques can still provide an excellent and long lasting result.
Modularity of modern femoral components allows equalisation of leg lengths and by using larger diameter femoral heads the risk of dislocation can be reduced.
Indeed large diameter, modular heads are a particularly attractive option in patients with underlying neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or for patients with other multiple joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis or in patients with visual or other neurological handicap.
Private hospital locations
There are 22 Ramsay Hospitals across the UK, from Cornwall to Yorkshire. To locate your nearest Ramsay Hospital,
visit the Ramsay web site.
Head office
Ramsay Health Care UK Operations Ltd
1 Hassett Street
Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK40 1HA
Tel: 01234 273473
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