Knee surgery can help give you back movement that’s free of pain and stiffness
It will come as no surprise that the number one reason people are referred to a consultant surgeon (after first seeing their GP or going to an accident and emergency department at their local hospital) is due to either some unexplained pain, or to pain they're feeling that obviously requires a specialist surgeon's skills.
In the case of being referred to a consultant knee surgeon, that pain may be due to a tear or problem with cartilage in the knee, osteoarthritis of the knee joint, or a dislocation of some sort in the joint.
All of these conditions result in pain, a loss of movement or flexibility followed by a poor quality of life for patients suffering from any of these problems.
You may have been referred to Three Shires Hospital by your GP or local hospital A&E department, but you may also have been referred here directly by an insurance company if you have private medical insurance and asked them for help about the pain you may be having in your knee.
It may also be the case that you would like a second opinion or that you want to see a specialist as quickly as possible, and you have the means to fund your own treatment. Whatever your reasons for accessing treatment our aim is to make sure that you get back on the road to recovery quickly.
Your initial appointment will take place with a specialist who will go through a history of the problem, a thorough examination and may order relevant investigations such as X-rays or scans. Our specialists will let you know the different options you may have to help you with recovery, which may include conservative treatment options such as pain relief, physiotherapy and injections, or more complex surgical treatment.
Whatever you decide, Three Shires Hospital is here for you, so if you're concerned about your health or would like more information, please call us on 01604 620311 and we will be happy to advise. We are situated in the beautiful grounds of St Andrews Hospital close to Northampton General Hospital and within easy travelling distance from Northampton town centre.
We'll also talk about any allergies you may have, your social activities including any exercise regime you have, and if your quality of life is suffering because of your condition (such as sleeping well at night, taking walks, running, or playing sport).
Depending on the diagnosis at that point, recommended treatments may be as simple as lifestyle changes such as changing your activities or it may be dietary or weight loss interventions.
Following on from that, the next steps may be physiotherapy specifically directed toward the source of the problem following your specialist surgeon’s advice, injections or in some cases partial or full knee joint replacement may be an option to get back a better quality of life.
Your consultation may be over the telephone or face to face depending on your condition and the normal consultation time is around 30 minutes.
Then there are congenital conditions which show up as a person grows older. Knee dislocations can happen this way, but they can also occur when twisting the leg and through wear and tear.
A ligament attaches one bone to another, and it's the patella ligament that attaches the bottom of the kneecap (the patella) to the top of the tibia (your shin bone or lower leg). At the top of the patella is the quadriceps tendon that attaches the patella to the quadriceps muscle.
If anything happens to the tendon or ligament such as a tear, then there's a chance the patella will slip out of its groove, making the knee difficult to bend. This is a knee dislocation. It can be painful or not depending on many factors, but swelling usually results and surgery is usually needed.
If there is a congenital condition affecting any of these elements, then it's also possible for the knee to dislocate more easily.
Another reason for dislocation to occur is where an earlier trauma has weakened ligaments or tendons in the knee or caused other conditions to happen, which then affects the stability and allows the kneecap to pop out of place.
It most often occurs if a person makes a sudden stop, turn, or other exertion on the knee, which puts extra pressure on the ligament and can cause it to tear. The leg will then feel weak and it may swell around the damage, making the patient feel unstable.
If this ligament is badly torn, surgery is usually the only solution.
Over time this can escalate to the point where we can no longer walk with ease. Hips and knees are equally affected.
They are in effect an injectable pain killer. When we take an analgesic (pain killer) orally, it's in the hope it will eventually hit the source of the pain, but in the case of a corticosteroid injection, we can place it directly where we want it, hence its effectiveness.
Luckily the knee is very exposed and so we can carry out an injection of this sort very quickly and easily without the need of an X-ray or scan. This is done in a sterile setting but is an outpatient operation that does not involve a general anaesthetic, which means you will be in and out within an hour.
A local anaesthetic is also injected into the knee, and once the corticosteroid has been given, you will be able to walk around immediately and return home when you feel ready. Most people feel instant relief. You would need to have someone to drive you home though.
Operations on the knee are quite involved since the knee is the largest joint in the body and a long scar is required in the front of the knee with the result that on average 85% of patients are very happy with the outcome (whereas it's around 95% for hip replacements).
From diagnosis to operation takes around 6 weeks with private care, with recovery after the operation also taking around 6 weeks.
If you have any questions about your appointment or what you can expect at Three Shires Hospital, please don't hesitate to call us on 01604 620311
