Knee Clinics

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Knee

Knee problems are common and in some cases, can be debilitating. But full mobility can be restored at our respected and world renowned orthopaedic clinic. This Harley Street clinic provides private medical and surgical care to the highest standards possible and uses cutting edge techniques and equipment to do so.

Our skilled and experienced orthopaedic specialists and surgeons are leading figures in their field. They have devoted many years of study to this branch of medicine and use their knowledge and understanding of orthopaedics to the benefit of their patients. This includes minimally invasive surgery to treat sports injuries and osteoarthritis.

Anatomy of the knee

The knee is the largest joint in the body which allows a wide range of movement, e.g. flexion, extension and rotation. It is a hinge type of joint which supports the entire weight of the body and for this reason, is prone to injury or disease, for example, arthritis.

It consists of four bones – tibia, fibia, patella and femur. These are separated by two thin layers of cartilage which prevents friction within the joint. These cartilage are known as the menisci (singular is meniscus).

The knee joint is encased within a ligament capsule which contains a fluid known as synovial fluid. This lubricates the joint and enables it to move.

Stability is provided by muscles and ligaments which surround the knee. There are four ligaments which support the knee which are:

  • Anterior cruciate
  • Posterior cruciate
  • Medial collateral
  • Lateral collateral

Extra stability and movement is assisted by the quadriceps and hamstrings which are two main muscle groups around the knee.

Common knee conditions

The knee joint is vulnerable and suffers from the following conditions:

  • Unstable kneecap (patella)
  • Cartilage injury, e.g. torn meniscus
  • Ligament injury, e.g. ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Bursitis
  • Patella tendonitis
  • Baker’s cyst

The most common symptom of any knee condition is pain. This is often accompanied by redness, inflammation and restricted mobility within the knee joint.

Treatment for knee conditions

Surgery is the most likely form of treatment which is performed by our world renowned orthopaedic surgeons who have many years of experience in this specialism. They use the latest techniques and modern equipment, all within state of the art surroundings. The aim is to restore normal function to your knee joint.

Our surgeons have experience in sports injuries, soft tissue injuries and arthritis. Many of them treat orthopaedic conditions in other parts of the body, for example, the spine.

The treatment process starts with a comprehensive discussion of your condition followed by a physical examination and tests. You will be presented with a list of treatment options, all of which are designed to meet your individual needs. This is very important: we treat every patient as an individual and devise a treatment plan which suits their particular condition.

A date and time will be arranged for your surgery which is accompanied by information about what to do before and after the operation.

Surgery can involve the removal of damaged cartilage or a total knee reconstruction. Arthroscopy is the preferred procedure and is a form of keyhole surgery in which a small incision is made in the knee followed by the insertion of the arthroscope. Other instruments will be inserted to repair or remove the problem cartilage.

Arthroscopy is also used to treat Baker’s cyst, bone spurs and a build-up of fluid (synovial fluid) within the knee joint.