Knee conditions

  • Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects joints including bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. Osteoarthritis can include inflammation of the tissue around the hip joint, damage to joint surface cartilage, bony spurs growing around the edge of the hip joint and/or deterioration of the ligaments and tendons that hold the joint together.

  • Meniscal cartilages are C-shaped cushions in the knee joint which help with lubrication and stability of the joint. They are commonly torn in twisting injuries in younger patients playing sports, or may be torn with minimal effort in older individuals due to weakening of the tissues from ‘wear and tear’. Unfortunately the healing potential of meniscal tissue is limited, so ongoing symptoms relating to a tear should be reviewed by a specialist.

  • There are four main ligaments in the knee, each of which plays a role in regular movement. The two cruciate ligaments – the ACL and PCL – are located in the centre and back of the knee, controlling its rotation and forward-backward movements. Collateral ligaments – the MCL and LCL – stabilise the knee’s inner and outer sides. Though some are more susceptible to injury than others, all can be damaged in sports and can sideline a player for lengthy periods.

  • Patellofemoral dislocation happens when the patella (kneecap) becomes detached from the femur (thigh bone) and moves out of its regular place. The injury is extremely painful and will prevent the sufferer from walking, though it is fortunately much less serious than other dislocation injuries. A dislocated kneecap will often correct by itself, though consulting an orthopaedic surgeon is recommended nonetheless to prevent complications and identify issues that may prevent adequate healing. Patella pain and off-centre tracking may be linked to subtle issues with the shape of the bones around the knee and issues with muscular control of the kneecap.

  • Knee fractures are any type of break in the bones which make up the knee joint. Knee fractures can occur in the sections of shin bone (tibia) and thigh bone (femur) which make up the knee joint, or in the kneecap.

Knee treatments

  • A total knee replacement is an operation performed on a knee joint damaged by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, accidents or sports injuries. It is carried out only after other forms of treatment have no further benefit.

  • Unicompartmental or partial knee replacement replaces the worn part of the knee whilst retaining the healthy part of the knee. Most commonly the medial (inner) compartment of the knee is replaced though occasionally in patients with disabling lateral compartment or patellofemoral (knee cap) arthritis this procedure is suitable.

    This is not a new concept but there has been resurgence in popularity recently, particularly with the aid of robotic-assisted surgery.

  • Robotic surgery utilises computer-assisted planning combined with a robotic arm guided by your surgeon. Used regularly by our surgeons since 2017, the major aim of robotic assisted joint replacement is to assist the surgeon in achieving highly accurate placement of a hip or knee prosthesis.

  • This means that part or all of your previous knee replacement needs to be revised. This operation varies from a minor bearing replacement to a considerable operation replacing significant amount of bone.

    A knee prosthesis may need to be revised due to pain, plastic (polyethylene) wear, instability, loosening of either the femoral or tibial component, infection or osteolysis (bone loss).

  • The anterior cruciate ligament is the most commonly disrupted ligament in the knee. Our understanding of the anterior cruciate ligament and its importance to knee stability has increased greatly over the past 20 years, as has our ability to diagnose and treat this injury. Not everyone who has an ACL tear requires surgery, this depends on age, activity levels, instability symptoms and other injured joint structures. A thorough assessment and discussion with one of our specialists is recommended.

  • Arthroscopic surgery of the knee is performed using a small telescope and operating instruments which are inserted through two small incisions approximately 5 millimetres long.

    Using this technique, it is possible to remove/repair torn cartilage and other loose pieces as well as perform various other forms of surgery within the knee using special instruments without the necessity to open the knee.

  • The patella (kneecap) and the femur (thigh bone) articulate with one another at the knee joint. When problems arise in this area, it can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability. Activities that involve bending the knee, such as running, jumping, and climbing stairs, can exacerbate these symptoms. Traumatic patella dislocations or more chronic patella maltracking/instability will benefit from specialist assessment and management.