A hip replacement removes the cause of your hip pain, improving mobility as well as your quality of life.
Located in Shirley Oaks Village on the outskirts of Croydon, our private hospital sees patients from South West London, East Surrey and beyond. People come to use from local areas such as Sutton, Banstead, Coulsdon, Purley and Wallington, as well as Warlingham, Kenley and Chipstead. We also see many patients from further afield. People travel to us to seek the expertise of our experienced consultants and to make the most of our great facilities and compassionate team of healthcare professionals.
At Shirley Oaks Hospital in Croydon, our dedicated team of orthopaedic consultants can plan and perform your hip replacement surgery with accuracy and precision. We offer our tailored, evidence-based treatment and services to people who live in Croydon, Surrey, and further afield. To find out more about our services, call us or book online to arrange your first appointment with one of our highly experienced consultants.
The cost of a hip replacement package price at Shirley Oaks Hospital is typically around £13,700*
This cost can vary, because the price is affected by the length of stay needed and the type of artificial hip (prosthesis) used by the surgeon.
The exact cost will be confirmed in writing before you have your treatment. If you are paying for yourself, we’ll put together a fixed-price package for you, which will include aftercare and follow-up appointments to boost your recovery.
We offer flexible payment options that allow you to spread the cost of treatment. We also work with all major private health insurance providers, and if you have insurance this will usually cover the cost of a hip replacement.
*This is just a guide price for people paying for their own treatment. The actual cost will be confirmed in writing ahead of time.
Mr Jig Patel, one of our consultant orthopaedic surgeons in Croydon, explains that hip replacement surgery will only be recommended if your hip problems are bad enough that they're holding you back from living life as you are used to.
"If you are struggling to do everyday things such as walking to the shops, experiencing pain at night, tying your shoes, getting in and out of the bath; or if you have a hobby such as golf and you're simply not able to walk, it might be time to consider hip replacement surgery," he explains.
"We offer non-surgical options first, such as physiotherapy or joint injections. If these don't give the results we hoped for, we'll start talking about hip surgery.
"In the end, it's a personal choice that has to be driven by the patient. It's your choice and you have to do what's right for you."
"Arthritis is by far the most common condition we see at Shirley Oaks," says Mr Patel. "And specifically osteoarthritis, which is where the joint has worn down over time and become painful. This is the most common type of arthritis.
"Other people come to see us with hip pain caused by injuries, or by a condition called gluteus medius tendinopathy. And very occasionally, we will see cases where hip pain is actually caused by problems in the spine."
Whatever the cause of your hip pain, our experts can help you to locate the cause of your problems and find the right treatment for you.
This consultation is to assess the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your life, as well as making or confirming a diagnosis of what's causing your hip problems.
If you haven't yet had any treatment for your hip pain, we might start by recommending physiotherapy or perhaps even hip joint injections. "Injections can be diagnostic as well as therapeutic," explains Mr Patel. "So they can help us to identify what's causing your pain if the source of pain is in doubt, as well as providing effective pain relief.
"We usually try to exhaust other options before recommending surgery," he continues. "But it's a very personal decision and everything is guided by what's best for the specific individual."
If your consultant thinks that hip replacement surgery is the right choice for you, they will spend lots of time explaining the whole process to you, talking you through all the benefits as well as the potential risks, so that you feel totally comfortable making a decision about what to do.
If hip replacement surgery is the right choice for you, it can be transformational. "People often say to me, I wish I'd had it sooner!" says Mr Patel.
A total hip replacement is a procedure in which the doctor removes a painful hip joint and inserts an artificial joint.
This procedure is done when your hip is painful or is not working well and other treatments have not worked.
Alternatives to a total hip replacement operation include:
You should ask your doctor whether any of these choices would be of benefit to you.
You should talk to someone who has had a hip replacement to get an idea of what the procedure and recovery period are like.
Allow for time to rest after the operation and find people to help you with your day-to-day duties and care for at least the first week at home.
Follow any instructions your doctor may give you. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water.
A general or spinal anaesthetic is given. A general anaesthetic will relax your muscles and make you feel as if you're in a deep sleep. It will prevent you from feeling pain during the operation. A spinal anaesthetic is a drug that should keep you from feeling pain during the operation.
The doctor makes a cut along the side of your hip, moves the muscles connected to the top of the femur (thigh bone), and exposes the hip joint. The surgeon removes the ball and prepares a bed for the new ball and socket.
The surgeon then inserts the new artificial ball and socket to form a new hip. The doctor then reattaches the muscles to the top of the femur and closes the incision.
You may stay in the hospital for about 2-4 days, depending how fast your hip heals. You may first be confined to bed with a wedge-shaped cushion between your legs to keep the new ball and socket joint in place. Physical therapy is usually begun the day after surgery, and within days you can walk with a frame, stick, or crutches.
Do not participate in sports or any heavy activity after discharge from hospital.
You can expect your orthopaedic surgeon to follow you closely after your operation. The surgeon will plan physical therapy and rehabilitation for you. This therapy may last for weeks to months after your surgery and will be designed so that you will gain maximum benefit from your hip replacement. You should ask your doctor what other steps you should take and when you should come back for a check-up.
You may resume a more normal life. The problems of a painful hip joint, such as limited range of motion and constraints on how far you can walk, should be relieved.
Hip replacement surgery usually takes around one hour.
Your consultant will understand your personal circumstances better and be able to advise what your hip surgery recovery timeline looks like. However, we understand it's useful to have an idea, so the below timeline is an average hip replacement recovery timeline.
It's normal to have a bit of pain and swelling after surgery, however, we give lots of painkillers and anaesthetic to all our patients to make sure they are in as little discomfort as possible.
One or two days after your operation you will be back on your feet, though you'll need to use a walking aid for a while, such as a frame or crutches.
Most people will stay in our hospital for two or three nights after their surgery. This gives us enough time to make sure you feel totally well enough to go home, as well as allowing you time to have sessions with a physiotherapist so they can show you how to start your recovery.
Some people want to get home as soon as possible, while others would rather stay a little longer. Talk to your care team about how you're feeling. We don't want to send you home until you're ready.;
When it is time to leave, you can either arrange for a loved one to pick you up, or we can organise a taxi for you. You won't be able to drive yourself for a while.
Within a couple of weeks, you will be able to walk more regularly. You will typically need a walking aid for two weeks, though some people will use one for longer.
After four to six weeks, you can start incorporating gentle exercise, such as long walks or gentle swimming, into your everyday routine. You can also usually return to work at this stage, depending on the type of work you do (if you have an office job, you can return to the office).
Most people return to driving after three or four weeks, however, you should speak to your surgeon and insurer about when they consider you fit to drive again.
Six to 12 weeks after hip replacement surgery, you should be well on the way to a full recovery and able to carry out everyday activities with ease.
Physiotherapy is a very important tool when you're recovering from hip surgery.
One of our chartered physiotherapists will work with you to build a personalised exercise plan to help you regain your strength and mobility as soon as possible. The more committed you are to following this plan, the better your chances of a quick recovery.
Serious complications as a result of hip replacement surgery are rare. If you have any concerns about these, speak with your consultant.
They will be able to discuss their likelihood with you in more detail and put your worries at ease.
If you would like to learn more about hip replacement at Shirley Oaks Hospital, get in touch today.
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Sat - Sun: Closed
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Mon - Fri: 8am - 7:30pm
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