A hip replacement is a surgical procedure to remove your damaged hip joint and replace it with an artificial joint. It is normally offered to people with a degenerative condition like arthritis or those who have sustained a serious hip fracture. A total hip replacement entails replacing the entire joint whereas with a partial hip replacement only a section of the joint (the ball damaged part) is removed and some of the natural joint remains intact (socket).
Hip replacement surgery is a routine procedure that is performed both privately and on the NHS. While both offer outstanding care and excellent results, one of the drawbacks of having the procedure on the NHS is that waiting times can be long. In February this year, there were 31,323 patients waiting for a hip replacement on the NHS, with an average wait time of 27.4 weeks. For this reason – and also because of personal preference – some people choose to have their hip replacement surgery performed privately.
Private treatment not only enables you to have your surgery sooner, but it also offers greater flexibility to arrange the procedure (and, therefore, also your rehabilitation) around home and work commitments. Many private surgeons, including Andrew Carrothers, also offer leading edge techniques and technologies which contribute to an improved experience for patients.
Here are some of the options we offer…
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Surgery
A ‘minimally invasive’ surgical procedure uses smaller incisions compared to conventional surgery. This causes less damage to soft tissues so your body can recover faster and there is less blood loss. There is also less pain and a reduced risk of complications during surgery.
Carrothers Orthopaedics offers a range of minimally invasive hip treatments, including treatments for trochanteric pain syndrome and gluteal tendinopathy and soft tissue tears. We also offer a special type of minimally-invasive hip replacement surgical approach called the mini-posterior approach. With this type of surgery, Mr Carrothers makes an incision at the back of the hip close to the buttocks. This avoids having to cut the abductor muscles, which are the primary muscles used for walking. The approach has an excellent success rate and rapid recovery times. Typically, patients are able to walk later on the same day of surgery with crutches and thereafter with minimal assistance with a week or two after surgery.
Mako Robotic Arm Assisted Total Hip Replacement
A Mako hip replacement uses innovative robotics technology and enhanced computer software to support the orthopaedic surgeon in planning and carrying out the joint replacement. Prior to surgery, the patient has a CT scan of their damaged hip joint. The Mako system software uses this to create a detailed 3D virtual model of the patient’s unique hip anatomy, allowing the surgeon to create a fully personalised pre-operative plan, detailing which sections of the joint to remove and which can remain intact.
Once the patient is on the operating table, the surgeon can use the Mako’s innovative robotic arm, combined with unique Accustop software, to ensure that only these pre-defined sections of tissue are cut away. This improves accuracy and enables the artificial implant to be positioned in precisely the right position to ensure long-term comfort and performance.
In clinical studies, Mako patients surveyed six months after surgery have better patient satisfaction scores compared to those who undergo conventional joint replacement surgery. They also report lower pain scores.
Written by a private patient at Nuffield Hospital Cambridge30th April 2025Post operative pain after Mako hip or total knee replacement should not be expected – or accepted. Pain relief medication is very effective. Bearing in mind patient experiences are subjective, I have had a Mako hip and a total knee replacement performed by Andrew Carrothers and in both cases I experienced no post operative pain whatsoever.
For more information about private hip replacement surgery, including the different options and which might be most suitable for you, contact us.
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
We are always happy to provide information and guidance about the various treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, including Mako Robotic Arm Assisted Surgery and conventional surgery.
For more information, please contact us.
Our consultation fees are clearly presented here.
For your convenience, we offer appointments at both Nuffield Hospital Cambridge and Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
