Andy Murray serves up ace way to end agony of NHS hip-pain patients

The operation that rebuilt tennis ace Andy Murray’s hip could become a new ‘gold standard’ NHS operation for British joint pain patients, thanks to results of a landmark trial. Experts hope the data will persuade health chiefs to stop using surgery only as a last resort, and instead offer it early in a bid to restore quality of life to thousands of sufferers.

The major British study involving 348 patients carried out across 23 hospitals compared the impact on hip patients of physiotherapy alone with surgery followed by physiotherapy.

After a year, although both groups improved, those who went under the knife were significantly more mobile and suffering less pain. The findings could offer a lifeline for 30 per cent of the UK population who are estimated to have abnormally shaped hip joints, otherwise known as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) – the same condition that affected Murray.

He had surgery in January and is hoping to return to full tournament fitness.

The operation that rebuilt tennis ace Andy Murray’s hip could become a new ‘gold standard’ NHS operation for British joint pain patients, thanks to results of a landmark trial

The condition – which raises the risk of developing arthritis – often goes undiagnosed and is more commonly detected in those who are physically active. This is because the condition worsens when pressure and strain is put on the hip socket, causing agonising pain during exercise.

It is the most common cause of groin and hip pain in performance athletes.

The hip joint is a ball and socket joint: the ball of the top of the thigh bone (femur) fits into a socket lined with cartilage to keep it in place and allow smooth movement.

Femoroacetabular impingement happens when either the ball of the hip joint is more egg shaped than round, or the edges of the socket protrude, or both.

This hinders smooth movement of the joint and causes damage to the delicate cartilage.

Damian Griffin, professor of trauma and orthopaedic surgery at Warwick University, says the syndrome is especially debilitating for young, active and otherwise very healthy individuals. ‘It can force them to give up sport and hobbies, to struggle physically at work and even to resign from jobs that require a significant amount of physical activity.’

Often, patients are misdiagnosed with groin strain and treated with a course of physiotherapy – exercises designed to strengthen muscles and heal scar tissue – and high-strength pain killers.

After a year, although both groups improved, those who went under the knife were significantly more mobile and suffering less pain

After a year, although both groups improved, those who went under the knife were significantly more mobile and suffering less pain

‘Surgery is often seen as a last resort so patients often struggle on for years, by which time damage can be so severe that a hip replacement is the only option, but our results show that hip resurfacing has a fast recovery time and is highly effective, so should be considered early on,’ added Griffin, who led the new study.

The operation takes about 40 minutes and is performed under general anaesthetic. First two or three incisions, less than an inch long, are made over the hip joint. An arthroscope, or camera on a rigid tube, and the instruments are inserted through the incisions.

A burr, a ball-shaped cutting device, is used to reshape the joint so it moves smoothly. During this time, any damage found in the cartilage can also be fixed.

Professional footballer Matt Butcher, 21, midfielder for AFC Bournemouth, noticed a pinching pain in his right hip while doing deep squats or hip flexion in March, and a deep clicking in his hip.

Professor Griffin diagnosed FAI, and said it would worsen within two to three years. ‘It was a shock,’ says Matt, ‘since I’d known older players with hip injuries who struggled to come back.’

He had hip arthroscopy to reshape the hip and repair cartilage in April. ‘The pain and clicking have gone, and I hope to go on playing at the highest level as long as I can.’

For more information visit hiparthroscopyclinic.co.uk

Health notes 

People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sometimes wish they were dead because of the debilitating effects of diarrhoea.

In a survey of more than 500 IBS patients, 11 per cent reported suicidal thoughts during flare ups.

Professor Hans Törnblom, gastroenterologist and lead author of the study, said: ‘IBS can be an extremely tough, emotional and difficult condition to live with and it is essential that investment is committed to providing psychological and emotional support for patients.’

IBS is characterised by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, including diarrhoea, and is estimated to affect 17 per cent of Britons.

Headphones that look after ears

Smart headphones that can adjust their own volume to suit their user’s ears could help reduce the risk of hearing damage.

The Bragi Dash Pro wireless earbuds, which can be used underwater, connect to an app that gives users a quick six-minute hearing test – analysing their ability to hear different frequencies – and creating an individual hearing profile. This is used to adjust the frequency at which music is played, meaning the listener hears it at the safest, optimum level without needing to crank up the volume.

Research suggests that a person’s ‘usual listening level’ is often much higher than the ‘most comfortable volume level’ they themselves later select, indicating that many of us, despite knowing our music might be too loud, continue to exceed safe levels.

Bragi Dash Pro, £299, Currys

Smart headphones that can adjust their own volume to suit their user’s ears could help reduce the risk of hearing damage.

Smart headphones that can adjust their own volume to suit their user’s ears could help reduce the risk of hearing damage.

Children who stammer may not just be nervous, but may have a faulty immune system. A study looking at the prevalence of illness in 6,000 Swiss adults aged 20-85 revealed that having a childhood stammer was associated with greater incidences of hay fever, psoriasis and eczema – all diseases caused by immune system problems.

The psychiatrists at Zurich University who wrote the study say that these conditions trigger the release of stress hormones which, given the right environmental circumstances, may lead to the development of a stammer.

Hope for stroke survivors

Stroke survivors could be spared a secondary episode thanks to a matchstick-sized device implanted in the chest. An undiagnosed heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation (AF) – which affects around one million Britons – is believed to be responsible for about 30,000 of the 100,000 strokes a year in Britain. The Reveal LINQ device is an insertable cardiac monitor that records the rhythm of the heart 24 hours a day, transmitting the information via wi-fi to doctors. Several NHS trusts are now using it in stroke patients to establish whether an abnormal heartbeat has caused a stroke. More details at medtronic.com.

Book me in

Beat Your Bloat by Maeve Madden

Qualified nutritionist and fitness blogger, Maeve’s honest tale of her struggles with IBS symptoms. Contains gut-friendly recipes and easy exercises to help fellow sufferers.

Kyle books, £14.99

Qualified nutritionist and fitness blogger, Maeve’s honest tale of her struggles with IBS symptoms

Qualified nutritionist and fitness blogger, Maeve’s honest tale of her struggles with IBS symptoms

Blog me better

The Blog:

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The Blogger:

Mother-of-one Natasha Bailie who blogs about her experiences of depression and anxiety amid the messiness of motherhood.

What’s it all about?

Calling on her fellow ‘muthas’, Natasha’s online platform shares stories of parents with experiences of a host of mental health conditions, while offering support for mothers in crisis.

Yes please

Oldo Seamless Sports Bra, £30

Norwegian sportswear brand Oldo team-up with charity Breast Cancer Haven to design a collection of stylish, functional sports bras, with a portion of all sales going to the charity.

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Norwegian sportswear brand Oldo team-up with charity Breast Cancer Haven to design a collection of stylish, functional sports bras, with a portion of all sales going to the charity

Norwegian sportswear brand Oldo team-up with charity Breast Cancer Haven to design a collection of stylish, functional sports bras, with a portion of all sales going to the charity



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