Another world class service run predominantly at the Hospital of St Cross has benefited from a donation from the Friends of St Cross.
The Hip Preservation Service at the hospital in Rugby has recently taken delivery of two arthroscopes. These are used during keyhole surgery procedures to repair damage to the hip joint to reduce or avoid the need for hip replacement surgery.
Consultant Surgeon Mr Michael Cronin explained more about the kind of operations that the arthroscopes are used for. He said: “The three consultants who lead the Hip Preservation Service treat younger patients with severe hip pain. We use keyhole surgery techniques to correct minor malformations of the hip joint, or repair damage. These keyhole operations can postpone the need for patients to have a hip replacement, and in many cases avoid it altogether.
“As well as requiring major surgery and lengthy rehabilitation, hip replacements wear out over time. This can happen even faster in younger, more active patients, so delaying or avoiding the need for a hip replacement makes such a difference.”
Theatre Sister Mary Villasis added: “The new scopes donated by the Friends are connected to High Definition screens and have internal mirrors which enable the surgeons to look at the joint using either 30 or 70 degree angles from the tip of the scope. They allow our surgeons to create highly detailed images of the hip joint's surface, and repair the problems causing our patients pain. We’re very grateful for the donation to help our patients.”
Willy Goldschmidt, Chairman of the Friends of St Cross, said “I have known for some time that the team at St Cross deliver the vast majority of hip and knee replacements carried out by the Trust but was amazed to learn about this service and that patients travel the length and breadth of the country to have this treatment which makes an enormous difference to so many people who would otherwise have to suffer pain for many years.”
Photo: by Bob Mercer Theatre Sister Mary Villasis