Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that leads to a worsening of symptoms as time goes on. As we age, the joints in our body start to wear. This can occur in any joint, although those that are weight-bearing – such as the hips and knees – are particularly at risk. In this blog we are looking at hip osteoarthritis – as well as other forms of arthritis that affect the hips – and how Mako total hip replacement surgery is being used to help people with the condition to regain quality of life and get back to doing many of the things they love.
What causes hip osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is sometimes referred to as ‘wear and tear arthritis’ because it is associated with ageing and the gradual deterioration of the joints over time. Osteoarthritis of the hip causes pain and stiffness which may be particularly noticeable when you bend, stand up from a sitting position, walk or climb stairs.
The bones in our hip joint are covered with articular cartilage which is a smooth, slippery tissue that helps the bones glide over each other so the joint can function easily. Over time, this cartilage starts to wear away, becoming rough and frayed and decreasing the space between the bones. The result is that the bones may start to rub together, causing damage and pain. Spurs called osteophytes might develop on the damaged bone, further reducing the range of motion in the hip joint.
There is no single cause of hip osteoarthritis however you may be at particular risk as you age, or if you have a family history of the condition, are overweight or have previously injured your hip joint. Certain anatomical abnormalities can also increase your chances of developing hip osteoarthritis.
What are the symptoms?
Hip osteoarthritis causes pain and stiffness in the hip joint which may also radiate to your buttocks, groin, thigh or knee. The pain may be exacerbated by vigorous activity. It tends to develop slowly, although sometimes you may have a sudden onset. Stiffness in the hips may make certain movements, like bending, quite difficult. You can sometimes experience a grinding sensation in the joint, which is caused by loose fragments of cartilage interfering with the movement of the hip, and can also result in the hip locking or sticking.
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose osteoarthritis of the hip, your doctor will carry out a physical examination and may request diagnostic tests such as X-rays which will show up any narrowing of the joint space, damage to the bone surfaces or the formation of bone spurs or MRI scans to look at the cartilage and soft tissues in more detail.
What other types of arthritis can affect the hips?
While osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that can affect the hips, you may also experience severe hip pain if you have traumatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis or avascular necrosis.
What is Mako Total Hip Replacement?
In the initial stages of osteoarthritis, you will normally be able to manage your symptoms using conservative treatments such as painkilling medication, physiotherapy exercises and core strengthening. As the condition develops, you might want to consider injections of corticosteroids into the joint which can help you to manage the pain. In the latter stages of osteoarthritis, however, the pain often starts to interfere with your ability to do everyday tasks and this can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Hip replacement surgery is a routine procedure for people experiencing severe pain due to osteoarthritis. It entails removing the damaged hip joint and replacing it with a prosthetic implant.
A Mako Total Hip Replacement is the next generation in hip replacement surgery. It uses ground-breaking robotics to support the orthopaedic surgeon during the operation whilst executing their surgical plan, and innovative computer software to enable them to plan the procedure in detail prior to surgery.
How is it used to treat hip arthritis?
Before surgery, patients have a CT scan of the damaged joint. A 3D virtual model of their unique anatomy is loaded into the Mako system software, which together with the surgeon then creates a fully personalised pre-operative plan. During the surgical procedure itself, the orthopaedic surgeon operates the Mako robotic arm, using it to prepare the joint to receive the planned prosthetic implant. Mako’s unique Accustop technology supports them to remain within the pre-defined area of the joint, so only damaged or diseased tissue is removed and healthy tissue is retained. This enables the implant to be positioned in precisely the right chosen place and because as much of the patient’s natural joint as possible is retained, if a revision joint replacement is needed at a future date to replace a worn-out prosthesis, there will likely be a lower risk of complications.
The Mako system has been shown to improve outcomes for patients in several important ways:
- In laboratory studies, it enables surgeons to implement their surgical plans with greater accuracy which improves performance of the implant.
- Mako protects soft tissues and ligaments from damage, according to clinical studies.
- Patients who undergo Mako surgery report lower pain scores than those who have conventional surgery, when surveyed after six months.
- In clinical studies, Mako patients surveyed six months after surgery report better patient satisfaction scores compared to those who have conventional joint replacement surgery.
Carrothers Orthopaedics has been at the forefront of Mako joint replacement surgery over the past six years. To date, Andrew Carrothers has completed 450 Mako Total Hip Replacements. For more information, contact us.
Further Reading:
Archive of our Mako Robotic Surgery blog articles
Mary’s Story about her Mako Hip Replacement
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.
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