Replacing the worn ball and socket — among the most reliable operations in surgery.
What is involved
Hip arthritis limiting walking distance, sleep and dressing
Hip replacement removes the worn head of the femur and resurfaces the socket. Recovery is typically quicker than for a knee, with most people walking with a stick within a fortnight and off aids within a month. The pre-operative work — strength, weight, dental health, anaemia — measurably affects the recovery, so it starts weeks before the operation.
What the appointment includes
Fees
Most insurers require a GP referral and a pre-authorisation number. Get both before you attend and bring the reference.
Self-funded surgery is quoted as a package covering the consultant, the anaesthetist, the hospital and the scheduled follow-up.
Some policies cover the operation and not the physiotherapy afterwards, which is the half that determines the result.
Where an insurer pays less than the quoted fee, you will be told the difference in writing before anything is booked.
Most people who come to us do not, and that is the honest answer for the majority of the conditions on this site. The consultation exists to work out which group you are in, and it always covers the non-surgical options first.
Appointments
Consultations are with a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. Bring any imaging you have already had — it often saves repeating it.