Hips

The Exeter Hip Team is world renowned, specialising in disorders of the hip joint. We provide a comprehensive hip surgery service for adults of all ages. The Exeter Hip Unit developed the innovative Exeter Total Hip Replacement, which is used worldwide and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.

The team includes 7 Consultants, 3 Hip Fellows and a Specialist Registrar, 1 Surgical Care Practitioner, 1 Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner, 2 Extended Scope Physiotherapists and a dedicated research team. We are supported by a variety of specialists, doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, researchers and administration staff.

The majority of hip cases seen are related to osteoarthritis. This usually affects patients over the age of 50 but can also present in patients younger than this because of conditions such as post-traumatic osteoarthritis, congenital hip disorders or rheumatoid arthritis. Surgery for osteoarthritis involves a damaged hip joint being replaced with an artificial one (known as a prosthesis) and this surgery is called Total Hip Replacement (THR) surgery.

Hip problems can also affect younger patients without arthritis due to soft tissue or bone development problems. We offer a dedicated young adult service for these patients.

We also work closely with our paediatric surgical colleagues to coordinate the care of patients with paediatric hip disorders into adult services.

Information and about us

Hip pain or problems can affect people of any age. Hip problems can cause pain in a variety of locations in your body - not just the hip. Such areas could include the groin or buttock. Hip problems can even be associated with knee pain because of the way the nerves pick up pain sensations from different sites. However, pain around the hip can also be due to problems with the spine and abdomen. Expert assessment or medical imaging is often needed.

The majority of hip cases are related to osteoarthritis. This usually affects patients over the age of 50 but can also present in patients younger than this because of conditions such as post-traumatic osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Surgery for osteoarthritis involves a damaged hip joint being replaced with an artificial one (known as a prosthesis) and this surgery is called a Total Hip Replacement (THR).

Hip problems can also affect younger patients without arthritis because of soft tissue or bone development problems. These are collectively known as “femoroacetabular impingement” (FAI).

The Exeter Hip Unit treats the full range of hip replacement treatments, as well as conditions that don't need hip replacement. This includes arthritis of the hip joint, revision/re-do of failed hip replacement, congenital hip disorders, secondary effects of paediatric hip disorders and complications arising from infected hip replacements. We also work closely with paediatric surgical colleagues to treat paediatric hip disorders and to coordinate their care into adulthood.

Contact us

Kamila Roberts
Lead Hip Team secretary and Medical Secretary to Mr Kassam
Tel: 01392 408400

Jennifer Hall
Medical Secretary to Mr Charity and Mr Evans
Tel: 01392 406132

Lucy West
Medical Secretary to Mr Wilson and Mr Hubble
Tel: 01392 408401

Siobhan Hughes
Medical Secretary to Mr Panteli
Tel: 01392 408028

Sally Clark
Medical Secretary to Mr Howell
Tel: 01392 404779

Where to find us

The Hip Team is situated in the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Level 0, directions as follows:

Directly inside the entrance to the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre.

From the hospital’s main entrance on Level 1, turn right onto the main hospital corridor and walk to the end of the corridor. At Area J walk down one flight of stairs, turn left and you will see the PEOC main reception to the Outpatient Department.

Meet the team

The Exeter Hip Team consists of:

Mr Matthew Wilson
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Jonathan Howell
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Matthew Hubble
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Al-Amin Kassam
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Michalis Panteli
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Jonathan Evans
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Sabrina Sokolowski
Surgical Care Practitioner

Johnathon Rule
Trainee Surgical Care Practitioner

Vicki Nadarajah
Extended Scope Practitioner (Physiotherapist)

Rosalind West
Extended Scope Practitioner (Physiotherapist)

Services and treatments

The treatment you need will depend on the specific symptoms and difficulties you have.

You'll be supported by a team of doctors, physiotherapists, nursing staff and other therapists who will work together to manage your care.

Not everyone with hip osteoarthritis needs surgery. You can often be treated by specialist physiotherapy, painkillers and occasionally, steroid injections. Patients whose pain is not relieved by these interventions will be assessed by our team to decide whether hip replacement would be suitable.

Hip replacement is an extremely good treatment for arthritis-related hip pain and modern techniques make the operation very safe with good outcomes. It involves replacing both parts of the ball and socket joint. The Exeter Hip replacement was first developed and used 50 years ago, having been developed in the Exeter Hip Unit, and continues to be used worldwide.

Almost two million Exeter hip replacements have been used worldwide. The Exeter Hip Unit exclusively uses this hip system for treatment of patients with osteoarthritis and has been shown to have some of the best results in the UK, with the some of the highest rates of patient satisfaction and the lowest rates of revision (re-do) surgery.

For younger patients with certain hip problems, keyhole surgery of the hip (hip arthroscopy) is also performed.

Some of the operations we perform:

Primary Total Hip Replacements both (routine and complex)
Revision hip replacement surgery including treatment for loosening, fracture, infection and instability
Fractured neck of femur surgery
Joint preserving and bone realignment surgeries such as hip arthroscopy surgery and proximal femoral osteotomy surgery

Patient information leaflets

We produce a wide range of leaflets which provide information about our services and about the treatment you might receive in our clinics or during your stay in hospital.

We also produce these in different formats including large print, please contact the department you are visiting for more information.

Find out more