Over 100,000 knee replacements are carried out in the UK every year, with 98% of initial knee replacements due to osteoarthritis.
This operation is performed to remove damaged parts of the joint and replace them with artificial elements (known as an implant or prosthesis) to stop pain and stiffness in your joint.
Knee replacement surgery is a major operation and takes time to recover from and to gain the full benefit.
At The Cavell Hospital, a team of experienced knee surgeons provide specialist care and custom-tailored knee implants to people living in and around Enfield in North London.
If you are struggling with severe, debilitating pain or stiffness in your knee and have been told that knee replacement surgery would be an appropriate option, it is easy to book a consultation with a knee specialist at a time that is convenient for you.
Similarly, if you have knee pain but are not yet sure whether surgery is the right choice for you, our team can help give you clarity about the best way forward.
Appointments are available with a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon six days a week (Monday – Saturday). You can book a private consultation online or by phoning our friendly bookings team on 020 8366 2122.
Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal condition in older people. While it can develop in any joint in the body, when it affects a knee it can cause significant mobility issues.
Risk factors for developing osteoarthritis include:
- Age
- Gender
- Genetics
- Weight
- Previous knee injury
Another form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, may also result in needing knee replacement surgery if other treatments are not effective at managing symptoms.
The knee is a complex joint, weight-bearing and involved in many different types of movements. Any type of problem with it can have a significant impact on daily life.
Where arthritis has caused significant damage to a knee, knee replacement surgery can give you a knee that is free of pain and stiffness, so you can enjoy better mobility and improved quality of life.
Surgery will not be needed in every case, as many causes and types of knee problems can be managed well using non-operative (conservative) treatments. At The Cavell Hospital, we provide a wide range of treatments for people with knee conditions. Treatments include:
Physiotherapy
The Cavell Hospital has a fantastic physiotherapy team, highly experienced in working with our knee surgeons to help people regain movement, function and strength in their knee.
With access to advanced exercise equipment and technologies, they can tailor a treatment or recovery programme for your specific needs.
Orthotics or knee bracing may also help, and these can be arranged for you if appropriate.
Joint injections
Corticosteroid injections have a dual action, working as pain relief and an anti-inflammatory. The effects wear off over time and while the injection can be repeated, many people find that these have less of a beneficial effect.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are both ‘next generation’ treatments provided by a number of consultants who work at The Cavell Hospital. These regenerative treatments can help promote growth in damaged tissue such as cartilage in the knee. Your consultant will discuss these with you if they may be suitable for you before knee replacement surgery is considered.
Knee arthroscopy
A method of looking inside the knee joint, knee arthroscopy can be used to diagnose a problem within the joint or to carry out treatment directly in the joint. An example of this is trimming pieces of cartilage to form a smoother surface once more, or to repair a damaged ligament in the knee (like the ACL).
There are a variety of additional treatments available that can help to delay the need for knee replacement surgery. Some of these (particularly the newer regeneration treatments) are more suitable for younger patients but your consultant will talk through suitable treatment options with you.
When it is determined that knee replacement surgery would be appropriate, Mr Nwaboku explains how a date is decided upon for the operation:
“I always give the patient the opportunity to decide with dates. I’ll talk through recovery timings and then they can check their diary to see when would be best for them. If somebody is keen to have the surgery as soon as possible, I can often arrange this within two weeks because I have a regular operating list.”
Many years ago, knee replacement implants were quite basic, using a simple hinge design. They were also quite large, which meant that more bone had to be removed during the operation.
Modern knee replacement surgery is far different and involves resurfacing the damaged knee surface(s). Depending on the parts of the knee that have been damaged, surgery may be total knee replacement or partial knee replacement (also known as unicompartmental knee replacement surgery).
You can find out more about the different types of knee replacement surgery on this page.
The Cavell Hospital can provide custom knee replacement implants that are specifically tailored to match the shape and biomechanics of your natural knee joint. Before the scan, a CT scan of the knee is done and the results are used to make cutting blocks that ensure precise cutting during the operation.
Whereas a standard knee replacement may have several pre-manufactured options to choose from, a patient-specific implant provides a better fit, is often more comfortable and provides a greater level of patient satisfaction.
Due to the costs involved in creating a custom knee implant, it is not readily available through the NHS. This is another reason people choose The Cavell Hospital for their private knee replacement surgery.
Knee replacement surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic, spinal anaesthetic or an epidural.
The surgeon will make a cut on the front of your knee, move the patella (kneecap) out of the way and then remove the damaged bone and cartilage from the joint. The new implant is then attached and fixed directly to the bone with an acrylic cement or special coating.
Knee replacement surgery will normally take one to two hours, but exact timings will vary.
You can read more about how the operation is done on this page.
Before you have knee replacement surgery, your consultant will talk with you about what to expect in terms of recovery. You will usually need to stay in hospital for a couple of nights or so, while you recover from the operation and adjust to moving around using crutches or another type of walking aid.
During your time in the hospital, the physiotherapists will visit with you and help you to start mobilising safely to prepare you for returning home. They will show you how to move safely up and down stairs and how to sit and stand without damaging your knee while it heals.
The speed you recover from your operation will depend upon several factors, but you can read more about knee replacement recovery and get a general idea of recovery timelines here.
Even though recovery from knee surgery is not immediate, as Mr Nwaboku comments, once recovery has been made, you can enjoy life without the constant pain and stiffness that you had before your operation.
Your consultant will usually see you two weeks after surgery to make sure that everything is healing properly, then again at six weeks when you will normally be discharged. If you have any queries or concerns at any time, it is easy to get in touch for advice.
Details of our fixed-price packages can be seen here.
For peace of mind, you will always receive written confirmation of your treatment price after your initial consultation and any investigations have been carried out.
We asked Mr Nwaboku to describe the difference he has seen knee replacement surgery makes to his patients. Here’s what he told us:
“The first thing that the patients notice is that any deformity they had in the shape of their leg has gone and that their leg has returned to what it looked like before they started having problems with osteoarthritis in their knee.
“Their posture and their gait improve and the most important thing for them is that they get their life back. Activities such as swimming, cycling, walking, even skiing and karting, are all possible once more. They can start doing those activities they had to give up.”
If you live in or around Enfield in North London, we believe you will find no better place to come for private knee replacement surgery than The Cavell Hospital.
Your local hospital
Many people living in Enfield appreciate having a local private hospital. Without the need to travel to a hospital in Central London, you can also avoid paying their higher treatment fees (which is particularly helpful for self-funding patients).
Rapid access
With private consultations available six days a week (Monday to Saturday), you will be able to see a consultant to discuss the most appropriate treatment for your knee condition quickly.
Evening appointments are available, and Mr Nwaboku has noticed that these are popular with working people as it means they don’t have to take time off work.
Remote consultations
Many consultants, including Mr Nwaboku, are very happy to offer remote consultations via telephone. This can be helpful for patients who live a distance from the hospital, or who would prefer to avoid travelling.
Location
It is easy to travel to The Cavell Hospital by private or public transport. For detailed directions, please click here. If you are using sat-nav, our address is Cavell Drive, Uplands Park Road, Enfield, London, EN2 7PR.
Free car parking
Our on-site car park has space for 80 cars and is free of charge for patients and visitors, taking the pressure out of parking.
Recommended by patients
In a recent patient survey, 98.6% of patients said they were likely or extremely likely to recommend The Cavell Hospital to their friends and family.
We know how frustrating long-term pain and stiffness in the knee can be.
If you would appreciate expert advice for any type of knee problem (whether that treatment will be knee replacement surgery or a non-operative option), we are here to help you access the support you need without delay.
With experienced physiotherapists, consultant surgeons, pain management consultants, anaesthetists, radiologists and a wider healthcare team working with modern equipment and state-of-the-art treatments, you will be in safe hands during your time with us.
Book a private consultation online today or call us on 020 8366 2122. We look forward to welcoming you to The Cavell Hospital and helping you regain movement and function in your knee once more.
