www.chesterhipandkneeunit.co.uk

North Wales teacher locked knee, unlocked by keyhole surgery.

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:57:23 +0100

A young and active sports teacher from North Wales had successful day case surgery on his knee. He had been having troublesome locking of his knee after a football injury. He struggled with his job and found running difficult. He needed to have quick and high quality treatment to fit in with the school holidays. He had his operation performed by Mr Janardhan Rao at the Chester Hip and Knee Unit.

“I am delighted with the outcome” he said. “I was having real problems at work as my knee would lock up and I had given up football. I had heard of the excellent reputation of Mr. Rao. The whole process was so simple. Once the problem was found, we set a date for the operation, during the holidays which was convenient for me.” When asked about the operation he went on to say, “I had a keyhole operation on my knee, I walked in and after the operation I walked out again, on the same day.” He went on to explain, “Mr Rao calmed my fears of the whole event, ….. I was in safe hands.”

Mr Janardhan Rao who is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Chester Hip and Knee Unit (CHKU) was asked about this type of day case surgery. “Knee Arthroscopy is what is commonly called Keyhole knee surgery. The word Arthroscopy comes from the Greek “Arthro” meaning joint and "skopein", to see. We literally see into the joint. There are many conditions which can be treated by this minimally invasive approach. The small scar leads to a more rapid recovery. The perfect example is this school teacher, I unlocked his knee and he has now returned to football and is leading an active life again.”

Mr. Janardhan Rao offers clinics on Wednesday mornings (09:00am – 1:00pm) and Thursday evenings (6:00pm-8:30pm). At Chester Hip & Knee Unit the problems caused by locked knees are well known. Mr. Rao and his team of specialists are experts in restoring the quality of life for their patients with prompt day case knee arthroscopy, and other surgical procedures.

Cheshire Pensioner Gets Total Hip Replacement at Private Hospital for Free

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:55:01 +0100

A Cheshire pensioner is to undergo a much needed total hip replacement at a private hospital without having to pay a penny. The scheme is part of the NHS Choose and Book and Patient Choice initiative. The lucky lady originally consulted her GP who felt that she would benefit from a hip replacement. She was given the central number to call and one of the choices which she was given was to see Mr Janardhan Rao, consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Chester Hip and Knee Unit.

When asked how she managed to get this appointment via the NHS, she said, “When I called the booking number they offered me appointments for different Hospitals. I knew that I did not want to go to Halton Hospital at Runcorn. One of the options was the Countess of Chester Hospital and the other was at the Private Hospital. When I was working, I had paid to go to the Nuffield Hospital, but now that I am retired I could not afford it. I was delighted that it was one of the options, and it was the earliest appointment!”

The Chose and Book Scheme does not specify which Surgeon you may end up seeing, even so there is an opportunity to have a consultation and surgery at the private hospital as an NHS patient. Mr Janardhan Rao who works at the Nuffield Health with the successful Chester Hip and Knee Unit (CHKU) was asked about this Choice Initiative. “The scheme does not necessarily get all patients seen in a private unit, but some are lucky enough to be given an appointment in my clinic. The lady who you have just spoken to, felt that her lucky lottery number had just come up, she was delighted to come here.” He went on to say, “The Choose and Book slots get filled up very rapidly.”

Mr. Janardhan Rao offers clinics on Wednesday mornings (09:00am – 1:00pm) and Thursday evenings (6:00pm-8:30pm). At Chester Hip & Knee Unit the problems caused by painful hips are well known. The team of specialists are experts in restoring the quality of life for their patients with hip replacements, and other surgical procedures.

Cheshire Patients benefit from Hip Resurfacing

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:57:34 +0100

Many Cheshire patients are benefiting from hip resurfacing operations. Hip resurfacing is a type of hip replacement. Here the hip is coated with a polished metal cap and the socket is covered with a metal cup. Unlike a normal hip replacement, the neck of the thigh bone (femur) is not cut. The head of the femur is still left on the top of the thigh and is used as the foundation for the cobalt chrome metallic cap. Many people believe that this is a more conserving of their own bone. The metal cup is held in by fantastic crystals (hydroxyapitite) which convinces the bone to grow into the socket.

Mr. Janardhan Rao, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Chester Hip and Knee Unit, has a large experience in the resurfacing of hips. Experience in the correct positioning of these implants has lead to a long term survival of the joint. As the bearing surface of the hip is large, there is an advantage of a reduction in the dislocation rate of these resurfacing, compared to a total hip replacement. Dislocations can still occur in any form of hip replacement but mechanically this type of joint is more resistant to falling out of position.

Some of the disadvantages of hip resurfacing include the release of metal ion particles from the metal on metal bearing surface. Even so the amount of wear form this type of bearing is significantly less than that of a conventional hip replacement. The metal ions released can cross into the next generation, so may not be a good option for younger women. There is a rare risk of aseptic lymphocyte dominated vasculitis associated lesion which may be an idiosyncratic response, but the latest research is showing this to be rare in well positioned implants.

Hip resurfacing may not be for everybody in spite of what the manufactures claim; in that your golf handicap may drop as your swing gets better with this operation. Hip resurfacing is not suitable if the bone is not strong enough to support the implant. Just the same as a house does not cope with weak foundations, similarly the hip resurfacing will not cope with weakened bone.

Further information can be found from Mr. Janardhan Rao at the Chester Hip and Knee Unit at Nuffield Health based at the Grosvenor Hospital in Chester.

Computer Navigated Total Knee Replacement

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:36:47 +0100

The Chester Hip and Knee Unit has excellent outcome from Computer Navigated Total Knee Replacement.

Total knee replacement has taken a stride forward with an innovative approach to knee surgery. Just the same as satellite navigation has improved the direction taken by drivers, the computer is adding to the refinement of knee surgery. The computers give an on screen display of the range of movements of the knee before and after surgery. There is an added benefit in that the contours of the knee are mapped into the computer which advises on the appropriate size of implant for each individual patient.

Mr. Janardhan Rao the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Chester Hip and Knee Unit, discussed the benefits. “The computer does not replace the skills and expertise of the well trained surgeon, it gives me the added information during the operation, to give the patients the best possible outcome from surgery". When asked about the other benefits of the new technology, he went on to say, “The guides not only give real time feedback throughout the operation, there is also the advantage that I no longer need to use the older rods and jigs which were on the standard system, these rods used to cause more bleeding”.Computer Navigated Total Knee Replacement as a procedure is currently being performed at the Chester Hip and Knee unit based at the Nuffield Health in the Chester Grosvenor Hospital.

New CT scanner

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:27:35 +0100

The Chester Nuffield hospital has gained access to a new mobile multislice CT unit. CT stands of computer tomography. This techonology takes X-Ray picures in a spiral format and recreates a body map of the x ray findings. The new mobile unit allows for high definition three dimentional reconstruction of the X-Ray image. The surface structure of the bone is often beautifully reproduced giving a detailed view of the internal body structure. The ability to manipulate the image is incredable. The ability to move the bony image front to back and round and round allows the surgeon an acurate view of the structure which they are due to operate on.

Knee Replacements at Chester Knee Unit Bring Comfort to Many

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:10:25 +0000

At Chester Hip & Knee Unit the problems caused by painful knees are well known. The team of specialists are experts in restoring the quality of life for their patients with knee replacements, and other surgical procedures.

"We have a superb team at Chester Knee Unit," said Janardhan Rao, leading surgeon at Chester's Hip and Knee Unit, "that understand the frustration and pain associated with missing out on every day life because of knee problems. Our mission, therefore, is to offer hope and to restore a person's quality of life. All our patients are looked after with great compassion, and our superb quality care is second to none. We have a family focused environment, with cost effective procedures, and treat each person as an individual, as we would like to be treated."

If you wish to find out more as to how Chester Knee Unit can help you contact us now.