Arthroscopy London, UK

Consultations for new patients generally take 30 or 40 minutes and will often involve a gait analysis, discussion and examination, and where appropriate review of x-rays and MRI scans and recommendations for treatment.

The term knee replacement is much less than it sounds. There are various types of knee replacement but most of them involve a resurfacing procedure in which a skim of bone is removed from the upper part of the shin bone (tibia) and lower part of the thigh bone (femur). The surface is then replaced using a metal on plastic bearing.

Mr Willis-Owen is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon

Mr Willis-Owen is a specialist in knee surgery and knee replacement

Arthroscopy, which is also known as keyhole surgery, is one of the most frequently performed orthopaedic procedures in the UK. It involves inserting a thin fibre optic scope through a small incision in order to see inside the joint, allowing diagnosis and treatment of arthritic joints without the need for invasive surgery. The benefits of arthroscopy over more invasive procedures include less swelling and discomfort, less scar tissue and a shorter recovery period. Mr Shah specialises in hip and knee arthroscopy and is the only orthopaedic surgeon in the Western Sussex Trust to perform arthroscopy on the hip. A wide range of conditions can be treated through arthroscopy including early arthritis, sports injuries and soft tissue injuries.

Knee replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty, involves replacing the damaged or arthritic knee with an artificial prosthesis. Commonly the knee is damaged from arthritis, resulting in pain and restricted movement. Sufferers may also experience swelling or loosening of the knee joint. A knee replacement aims to treat these symptoms, restoring the knee to its original functionality and relieving any associated pain. The knee joint consists of three bones- the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shinbone) and patella (kneecap). The femur and tibia are connected by tendons and their movement cushioned by cartilage. The patella protects the joint and moves up and down as the leg bends and straightens. Depending on the area of damage patients may require a total knee replacement or a partial knee replacement. A total knee replacement involves replacing both the tibia and femur with an artificial joint and in some cases resurfacing the patella as well. There are two types of partial knee replacement- patellofemoral and medial compartment. A patellofemoral knee replacement involves replacing the damaged knee cap and its surrounding cartilage. More commonly a medial compartment knee replacement is required, replacing only the inside part of the knee. One important benefit of a partial replacement is that it leaves the healthy bone and tissues intact, resulting in a faster recovery time and fewer complications. The disadvantages include a higher risk of revision surgery and sometimes the functionality is not as good as with a total knee replacement. Sometimes where there is damage to only part of the knee an alternative treatment is partial knee resurfacing. This involves resurfacing the damaged part of the joint with metal, leaving the healthy bone and surrounding soft tissues intact.