Orthopaedic treatments are changing and improving all the time. This helpful glossary summarises some of the main treatments we offer here at Carrothers Orthopaedics. If you have questions about any of these treatments or would like more information please contact us and we would be happy to help.
Conformis Customised Knee Replacements
Customised knee implants are individually designed for your knee, providing a perfect customised fit that mimics the natural shape of your knee. This means the prosthetic (artificial) knee joint is a precise fit and size for your individual bone structure. This generally results in better long-term outcomes and improved mobility.
Foot and Ankle Treatments
If you are experiencing pain in the feet or ankles, there may be a number of possible causes and different approaches to treatment. If you have severe ankle arthritis, for example, you may be offered ankle fusion surgery which fuses the talus bone to the tibia at right angles, as your foot would look if you were standing up. Achilles tendon disorders or severe plantar fasciitis sometimes also requires surgery. If they don’t resolve with physio, exercises or injections.
Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Hip or Knee Replacement
This is a surgical procedure for the treatment of severe arthritis of the hip or knee. It involves removing the damaged part of the hip/knee joint (which may be all of the joint in a total hip/knee replacement or just part of it in a partial hip /knee replacement). The damaged joint is replaced with a prosthetic implant, enabling you to enjoy a good quality of life once more.
Mako robotic arm technology is a state of the art approach to joint replacement. The system creates an individualised 3D model of your joint so your surgeon can pre-plan your hip/knee replacement. During the surgery, the surgeon guides the robotic arm, based on this plan. This helps them to focus on removing diseased bone and preserving healthy bone, and it also assists in positioning the prosthetic implant with precision based on your unique anatomy.
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
Using a minimally invasive approach to hip replacements, rather than conventional larger open surgery, leads to faster recovery from your operation, less muscle damage and a reduction in pain.
N-stride APS Injection
Developed to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, the N-stride injection can provide short-term relief from pain without the need for surgery. By injecting “good proteins” (anti-inflammatory cytokines and anabolic growth factors) from the patient’s own blood into the painful knee, the injection helps to restore mobility, reduce stiffness and improve cartilage health.
The treatment usually takes effect within a week and normally remains effective for six to 12 months. It is aimed at people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.
Orthotics
Wearing an orthotic (insole inside footwear) or brace can support or restrict joints. Orthotics may be used after surgery to prevent strain and further damage or to enhance sporting performance. Some orthoses are custom-made for the individual patient.
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections is a treatment for chronic tendon pain. It involves taking a sample of the patient’s own blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate out the platelets and plasma, which are believed to have natural healing properties.
A concentration of plasma and platelets is then reinjected into the damaged tendon to encourage healing and reduce pain. It is used to treat conditions like bursitis, tendinitis and tendinopathy.
Revision Joint Replacement
Over time, a prosthetic implant starts to wear out, becoming loose and causing your joint to swell or feel stiff. Most implants last between 15 and 20 years.
A revision joint replacement is a surgical procedure that involves removing the damaged prosthesis (or part of it) and replacing it with a new one. This type of surgery is more complex than the original joint replacement surgery and there can be some residual pain or stiffness in the affected joint.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is a safe and effective way of treating conditions like tendon pain. Intense bursts of energy waves are used to increase blood flow to an injury site and speed up the body’s natural healing processes. The procedure is increasingly being used as an alternative to surgery. It can also used post-surgically to help tendons heal around new joints.
Symbios Customised Hip Replacement
Did you know that the anatomy of the hip joint varies from patient to patient? In conventional hip replacement surgery, the surgeon selects a standardised implant that is as close as possible to your natural joint.
With a Symbios customised hip replacement, the prosthetic implant is customised and made to your individual anatomy. This helps to optimise leg length adjustment, muscle function and stability to ensure the best possible outcome from surgery. Symbios is the world leader in custom prosthetics.
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
Contact us for advice on any type of orthopaedic injury or condition or for more details about any of the treatments outlined here.
Our consultation fees are clearly presented here.
For your convenience, we offer appointments at both Nuffield Hospital Cambridge and Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
