Knee Surgery at West Midlands Hospital
Pain in your knee can be a real inconvenience and can stop you living the life you want to lead. You may struggle to do sports, walk any distance or do normal tasks around the house and garden.
But knee pain does not have to be lived with.Painkillers and physiotherapy may help in some cases, but if you have long-lasting, more severe, pain you may want to consider other options.
Read our frequently asked knee questions to find out more
Treatments
-
Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee replacement surgery is usually carried out when arthritis has badly affected the knee or the knee has been injured. The cartilage which covers the bony surfaces of the knee joint becomes worn away, which causes pain. The knee may also be visibly swollen.
Your GP is the first person to approach to advise on whether a knee replacement is likely to be an option for you. Such surgery normally involves a few days in hospital and a period of recovery at home during which you may need physiotherapy and help around the house.
Many people recover quickly from a knee operation and find they are once again able to do the things they enjoy.
If you are interested in knee replacement surgery, West Midlands Hospital can help. You won’t have to wait to see a Consultant - we offer consultations and operations at a time to suit you. In addition, we have first class facilities and our private patients benefit from our Premium Care package.
-
Knee Arthroscopy
An arthroscopy (also called keyhole surgery) allows your surgeon to see inside your knee using a camera inserted through small cuts in the skin. Your surgeon can diagnose and treat some common problems affecting the knee, without the need for a large cut in the skin and this may reduce the amount of pain you feel and speed up your recovery after surgery.
Consultants can diagnose problems such as a torn cartilage, ligament damage and arthritis. The main benefit of surgery is to confirm exactly what the problem is and in many cases to treat the problem at the same time.
Problems inside the knee can often be diagnosed using a magnetic scan (MRI scan). However, you may then need an arthroscopy to treat the problem.
A variety of anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation usually takes between half an hour and three-quarters of an hour.
Your surgeon will examine the inside of your knee. They will wash out any loose material caused by wear of the joint surfaces. It is usually possible for your surgeon to trim or repair a torn cartilage without needing to make a larger cut.
Some of the complications include pain, infection in the surgical site, unsightly scarring, blood clots and difficulty passing urine. You should be able to go home the same day.It is common for the knee to be a little swollen for a few weeks and walking can be uncomfortable.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a member of the hospital team or your GP for advice.
Most people make a good recovery and can return to normal activities. Your surgeon can tell you if you are likely to get further problems with your knee.
-
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the important ligaments that stabilise the knee joint. If this ligament has been torn (ruptured), the knee can collapse or ‘give way’ when making twisting or turning movements.
Read Our Patient Success Stories
- Golfer Thomas Scott is enjoying a comfortable walk down the fairways again thanks to life changing knee surgery.
- Football Fanatic John Is On Song After Hospital Knee Replacement
- Pam Has A Spring In Her Step After Knee Operation
Meet Our Consultants
At West Midlands Hospital we have a team of knee specialists who can help you to diagnose the problem and outline the treatments and surgeries which are available to you which will help you to lead a pain free life again.
