Total or partial replacement for arthritis that has stopped responding to everything else.
What is involved
Advanced arthritis limiting walking, sleep and daily life
Replacement resurfaces the worn parts of the joint with metal and polyethylene. Where only one compartment is worn a partial replacement preserves the rest of the knee and recovers faster. It is an operation with a very good record, and it is done when the pain and loss of function justify a recovery measured in months — which is a decision about your life rather than about your X-ray.
What the appointment includes
Fees
Most insurers require a GP referral and a pre-authorisation number. Get both before you attend and bring the reference.
Self-funded surgery is quoted as a package covering the consultant, the anaesthetist, the hospital and the scheduled follow-up.
Some policies cover the operation and not the physiotherapy afterwards, which is the half that determines the result.
Where an insurer pays less than the quoted fee, you will be told the difference in writing before anything is booked.
Most people who come to us do not, and that is the honest answer for the majority of the conditions on this site. The consultation exists to work out which group you are in, and it always covers the non-surgical options first.
Appointments
Consultations are with a consultant orthopaedic surgeon. Bring any imaging you have already had — it often saves repeating it.