One of the most important things to know about knee pain is that many people who visit a knee surgeon will find that their symptoms can be treated successfully without the need for surgery. In other cases however, knee surgery may be exactly the right choice. Your consultant at Bath Clinic will always clearly explain suitable treatment options so that you can make an informed decision about treatment.
Initial treatment for knee problems will often be conservative, and these can be very good at relieving symptoms. They include:
All of these can be arranged for you at Bath Clinic. Our physiotherapists work closely with the knee surgeons to ensure any exercise or mobility programme is tailored to your specific needs. If over-the-counter pain relief medication is not able to help, your consultant can prescribe stronger medication where appropriate. Joint injections tend to be of a corticosteroid, which provides a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect.
If these non-surgical treatments aren’t able to give you appropriate symptom relief, surgery may be an option. We provide a comprehensive range of surgical treatments.
Where severe osteoarthritis has damaged the joint surfaces in the knee and is causing severe pain and mobility problems, Total Knee Replacement (TKR) can be carried out to remove the damaged joint surfaces and replace them with artificial components made of cobalt chrome and titanium.
A Partial Knee Replacement (PKR) can be done where only part of the knee has been damaged.
Where the ACL has been ruptured (torn), ACL Reconstruction will help to restore stability in the joint again. The damaged ACL is reconstructed using graft tissue taken from the hamstring tendons or patella tendon.
When a meniscus has been damaged, Meniscus Repair can be carried out. Although still fairly uncommon, Meniscus transplantation may be an option. This uses donor tissue to replace the damaged meniscus. It is not appropriate for all patients, but your consultant will be able to discuss this further with you if required.
An Osteotomy can be done to correct misalignment of the knee, where the poor alignment is causing damage to specific parts of the knee.
Patella correction/stabilization can be helpful if you suffer from recurrent dislocation of the patella (kneecap).
Many modern knee operations can be carried out with keyhole surgery (knee arthroscopy). This minimally invasive approach to surgery means smaller cuts, reduced pain and bleeding, less visible scarring and a faster recovery.
Whether your knee problem would be better treated with or without surgery, by “open” surgery or keyhole surgery, you will be guided at every stage by a leading Consultant Knee Surgeon. With some of the top knee surgeons in the country choosing to work at Bath Clinic, including international leaders in ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair, you will always be in extremely good hands when you come to us for treatment.