Knee replacement surgery in Glasgow

At Ross Hall Hospital, we treat people with knee pain living in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. We also welcome people from outside of the UK. If you would like to discuss knee treatment with one of our dedicated consultants, you can book a private consultation at a time that is convenient for you, or call us to speak with a friendly member of our advisory team.

The most common reason people will be referred for knee replacement surgery is arthritis in the knee (specifically, osteoarthritis).

Osteoarthritis causes the smooth cartilage (articular cartilage) lining the bones in your knee to break down. In a healthy knee, this cartilage helps the bones to move over one another smoothly and without friction. As osteoarthritis progresses, friction happens every time the knee is moved, causing pain and stiffness in the knee.

In the earlier stages of osteoarthritis, symptoms can often be managed using non-surgical treatments like gentle exercise, physiotherapy, pain relief medication or joint injections.

As osteoarthritis progresses and the articular cartilage becomes more extensively damaged, the bones can begin to rub directly against one another, causing severe pain and stiffness. At this point, movement of the knee may be significantly reduced and will often limit mobility.

When you have knee replacement surgery at Ross Hall Hospital, the operation is carefully planned in advance to match your specific needs.

The surgery is performed either under a general anaesthetic (where you are fully asleep) or with an epidural (where you're anaesthetised from the waist down only).

During the surgery, your consultant will make a cut on the front of your knee and then remove the damaged bone and cartilage in the knee. This will be replaced with an artificial surface, which is fixed directly to the bone with acrylic cement or a special coating. By replacing the old, worn surfaces with new, smooth ones, movement of the knee becomes free of friction and pain.

Twenty experienced consultant knee surgeons work at Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow. We asked one of them for a bit more information about knee replacement surgery at the hospital. Here’s what they said:

“There are a number of knee replacements offered at Ross Hall depending on the type of arthritis affecting the knee and the surgeon’s preference. We use tried and tested prostheses, which are proven to have good outcomes and survive the test of time. Some of the surgeons are also using computer navigated prostheses and customised patient-specific prostheses. Unicompartmental and patellofemoral joint replacements are also available for appropriate patients.”

Mr Colin Walker, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

With multiple decades of combined knee surgery experience between them, the team at Ross Hall offers bespoke treatment for a range of knee problems for people in Glasgow and the surrounding areas.

For mild to moderate knee pain, many people will first visit their GP or physiotherapist for help. This can certainly be a good start, but if your pain or stiffness is becoming much more severe, is waking you up at night, or has lasted for a long time, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon will be able to give you a comprehensive assessment and tailored treatment plan to improve your symptoms.

Three main reasons people choose to have their knee replacement surgery at Ross Hall Hospital are:

1. Speed - Knee osteoarthritis affects every aspect of a person’s life, so it’s valuable and important to access treatment quickly and without delay.
2. Choice - When a patient has surgery at Ross Hall Hospital, they can choose the surgeon they wish to perform their surgery. All the consultants operating at Ross Hall are established consultants in their area of expertise. However, you can also specify a particular surgeon to carry out your surgery. This may be somebody you know either by reputation, recommendation or from previous treatment.
3. Recovery - Patients who choose to pay for their knee replacement at Ross Hall Hospital are offered outpatient physiotherapy and outpatient follow-up consultations after their surgery. Physiotherapy can help stabilise, strengthen and mobilise your knee safely, and many people tell us how grateful they are to have an experienced physiotherapist guide them through the early stages of their recovery. 

Many of the people who come to us for help have been referred by their GP, physiotherapist, sports physiotherapist, or osteopath.

Ross Hall Hospital is located a short drive from Glasgow city centre and is easy to travel to. With a team of 20 experienced consultant knee surgeons, you’ll be seen and treated quickly.

We know just how frustrating and debilitating severe osteoarthritis in the knee can be, but good help is available for you in Glasgow. Whether that be through physiotherapy, pain relief medication, joint injections, or knee replacement surgery, your consultant will make sure you get the treatment that is right for you. 

If you would like to speak to someone directly about your treatment, please phone our friendly bookings team.

The price of treatment for knee pain at Ross Hall Hospital will differ depending on the type of treatment you have. We offer fixed price packages, which are agreed before treatment, so you always know what you'll be paying. The final cost will be confirmed in writing following your consultation and any necessary diagnostic tests.

We offer flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your payment over a time that suits you. To find out more about the process of paying for your treatment, you can speak to a member of our advisory team on 0141 300 5009.

If you have private medical insurance, your treatment will normally be covered by your policy. We accept insured patients at all our hospitals and we work with all major providers.

1 BBC News, UK: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58388675

Content reviewed by Mr Colin Walker in August 2022. Next review due August 2025.