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Total knee replacement surgery
- No.1 in London for private orthopaedic care*
- 97% of orthopaedic patients rate our care ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’
- Appointments confirmed within 24 hours
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TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
Knee replacement surgery is a complex and delicate procedure, and you want to be sure you’re in safe hands. HCA UK gives you access to the UK’s leading knee specialists and the one-on-one care you need. They’ll use state-of-the-art imaging technology to shape the best picture of your condition, an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan so you can get back to living with better mobility.
Thousands of people have benefitted from our leading orthopaedic care, which is why we have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK. 97% of our orthopaedic patients say they’re likely to recommend us to family and friends.
Thousands of people have benefitted from our leading orthopaedic care, which is why we have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK. 97% of our orthopaedic patients say they’re likely to recommend us to family and friends.
Total knee replacement, or knee arthroplasty, is an operation where the damaged or worn-out parts of your knee joint are replaced with artificial parts. The procedure can help relieve knee pain, make you more stable and allow you to move your knee more freely again.
During the procedure, your surgeon will remove all the parts of your knee that are worn out or damaged, which can include:
During the procedure, your surgeon will remove all the parts of your knee that are worn out or damaged, which can include:
- Bones: Your knee is made up of three bones, your shin bone (tibia), your thigh bone (femur) and your kneecap (patella).
- Ligaments: Ligaments are the bands of tissue that run through your knee and connect your thigh bone to your shin bone.
- Cartilage: This is the soft tissue that protects your knee bones as they glide against each other and soak up impact from your movement.
Total knee replacement surgery is a major step, so it’s unlikely to be recommended before other treatments have been tried. Those might include physiotherapy or other physical exercises, or pain medication, as well as other less invasive surgeries such as knee arthroscopy, knee realignment or a partial replacement. It depends on the level of damage to your knee, and your consultant will do imaging tests such as an X-ray or an MRI scan to confirm your condition before any surgery is considered.
If any previous treatments haven’t been successful, you’re suffering from chronic knee pain or you have a condition or injury that’s severely damaged your knee, then total knee replacement can be an effective form of treatment.
For example, total knee replacement might be recommended if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:
If any previous treatments haven’t been successful, you’re suffering from chronic knee pain or you have a condition or injury that’s severely damaged your knee, then total knee replacement can be an effective form of treatment.
For example, total knee replacement might be recommended if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:
- Severe pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee and reduced mobility
- Knee pain that affects your quality of life, including your sleep
- Difficulty with routine tasks, such as shopping or using stairs
- Pain that stops you working or socialising
- Osteoarthritis or wear and tear of you knee joint
- Rheumatoid arthritis or inflammation of your knee joint
- Post-traumatic arthritis which is brought on by injury
- Gout which is inflammatory arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid
- Haemophilia, where internal bleeding damages your knee joint
- Bone dysplasia, where your bones have developed abnormally
- Knee deformities that cause the abnormal alignment of your knee joint
- Knee injuries that have damaged or changed the alignment of your knee joint
Total knee replacement surgery is a major step, so your consultant will only recommend it if other, less severe treatments haven’t improved your symptoms. Those treatments might initially include:
- Lifestyle changes such as changes to your diet or a programme of exercise
- Pain medication or anti-inflammatory drugs, depending on your overall health and any other conditions you have
- Physiotherapy to strengthen your knee joint, improve flexibility and reduce pain
- Steroid injections which can help reduce pain and inflammation
- Knee arthroscopy or keyhole surgery, where a small camera is inserted into your knee joint, allowing a surgeon to explore and treat specific knee joint issues
Total knee replacement surgery is a major operation, so you’ll need to stay in hospital for a while afterwards to check everything’s OK. The average stay is three days, but it depends on your specific surgery.
You’ll have a dressing on the incision in your knee, and we’ll give you advice about how long it might take to heal, and how to keep it clean and dry. We’ll also talk to you about your specific recovery time, and how soon you can back to everyday life such as driving or going to work.
Total recovery times are different for everyone, and it depends on your age, your fitness and your overall health.
You’ll have a dressing on the incision in your knee, and we’ll give you advice about how long it might take to heal, and how to keep it clean and dry. We’ll also talk to you about your specific recovery time, and how soon you can back to everyday life such as driving or going to work.
Total recovery times are different for everyone, and it depends on your age, your fitness and your overall health.
No.1
in London for private orthopaedic care
10
specialist orthopaedic fields offering personalised treatment
97%
of our patients are likely to recommend us to family and friends
Fast access to specialists
appointments bookable online or by phone
Expert orthopaedic treatments
from specialist knee consultants
State-of-the-art diagnostics
with results in as little as 48 hours
THE TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY PROCESS
What to expect
Our consultants and multi-disciplinary teams are dedicated to making sure you can talk through your symptoms in detail, get an accurate diagnosis and receive focused, one-on-one treatment. You’ll be cared for by experts, every step of the way.
01
Initial consultation
The process begins with a consultation with a GP, who’ll talk to you about your overall medical history, and the specific issues with your knee, including any previous treatments and how effective they’ve been. They’ll ask about your pain levels, your mobility and any other symptoms you’re experiencing. If your knee hasn’t been treated before, they might recommend non-surgical options such as physiotherapy, pain medication, steroid injections or a less invasive surgery first.
02
Investigations and diagnosis
Once you’ve been referred to a knee consultant, they’ll carry out a thorough physical examination of your knee. They’ll talk to you about your pain, test your range of movement and do some imaging tests such as an ultrasound or an MRI scan to assess the level of damage in your knee. They’ll get the results that day and will begin devising a treatment plan for your surgery.
03
Treatment
Your surgeon will make a cut in the front of your knee and move your kneecap aside. Then they’ll remove any damaged bone and cartilage in your knee joint and attach the artificial implant to your shin bone and thigh bone. If your kneecap’s damaged, they may also replace that with a plastic implant. Your surgeon might use robotic technology to help get the size and placement of your implant exactly right.
Your knee tissue will be sewn up with dissolvable stitches and the incision in your skin will be closed with regular stitches or staples. Your surgeon will leave also leave a small drain in your knee to remove fluid for a day or so after the operation. The whole procedure usually takes around two hours.
04
Recovery and aftercare
After your surgery, you’ll need a few days to recover in hospital. Specialist nurses will remove the drain from your knee and dress your incision, and when you’re ready, you’ll be able to go home. You should make sure you’re collected or have a safe way to get home, as you won’t be able to drive. You might also need help with some activities at home, such as shopping or cleaning. We’ll give you any pain medication you need and advice about keeping your dressing clean and dry, and you’ll have follow-up appointments to check on your recovery too. You might also be given a course of physiotherapy or other exercise to help build strength and mobility.
Locations
You can access our specialist knee services at a range of convenient locations across London and at our flagship hospitals in Birmingham and Manchester. From initial consultation through to treatment and next steps, you’ll be treated by some of the country’s most respected experts.
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what treatments you’re paying for.
Find out more
Total knee replacement surgery FAQ
Your knee has three compartments: the medial compartment (inside your knee), the lateral compartment (outside your knee), and the patellofemoral compartment (in front of your knee). Many patients have knee pain that’s caused by damage to just one of those components. A partial knee replacement is an operation to just replace that affected part of the knee joint, whereas a total knee replacement covers the entire joint.
Unlike total knee replacement, partial replacement doesn’t require any of your ligaments to be removed.
Unlike total knee replacement, partial replacement doesn’t require any of your ligaments to be removed.
Having an entire joint replaced is a serious procedure, and it’s important to take care of your new knee. The first three months are particularly important, and the right care could help your new knee last up to 20 years.
These steps should be followed after you’ve recovered from your surgery. They’ll help your knee work more effectively and last longer:
These steps should be followed after you’ve recovered from your surgery. They’ll help your knee work more effectively and last longer:
- Keep your leg raised as much as possible when you’re resting or at home
- Stick to your specific physiotherapy programme
- Exercise by walking or swimming – they’re low-impact and won’t damage your knee
- Avoid twisting or bending down as much as possible
- Swap high-impact activities like running or playing tennis with lower-impact exercise such as cycling
Costs can vary depending on the condition of your knee, the specific surgery you need and the kind of implant you receive, but your consultant will be able to explain your procedure and the associated costs in detail. If you’re self-paying, please ask your consultant about one of our fixed-price knee replacement surgery packages, which can help to give you financial clarity and peace of mind. Get in touch and we can explain your options.
Total knee replacement is a major operation, and like all surgery, carries some risk. It’s a common procedure, so the risk of complications is low, but it could include:
Your consultant will talk to you in detail about your specific condition, your surgery and any potential complications.
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots in your legs or lungs
- Your prosthetic knee becoming loose, dislodging or not functioning properly
- Fracture
- Pain or stiffness in your knee joint
- Injury to the nerves or blood vessels around your knee
Your consultant will talk to you in detail about your specific condition, your surgery and any potential complications.
Our patients’ stories
Andrew's story - Knee replacement using the Mako robot
Every golfer knows that your left knee is critical for making the perfect swing.
So, what happens when that knee is injured?
From a limp to ultramarathons
In May 2022, Neil underwent a combined total knee replacement and simultaneous removal of the PVNS under the care of Mr Pollock at The Princess Grace Hospital. Initially incredibly nervous about the procedure and what his world could look like post-operation, life has completely changed.
Robotic double knee replacement: David's story
A robotic double knee replacement eased David's excruciating knee pain
“ I had heard positive things about the shorter recovery time the Mako surgery offers and indeed, just a few hours after my operation, I started physiotherapy. Three days later, I was walking on crutches, using the stairs and ready to go home - I couldn’t believe it!”
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*Based on volumes reported by Private Healthcare Information Network
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.