Spire Healthcare: Private knee replacement and knee surgery in the UK

Spire Healthcare hospitals provide the highest standards of private healthcare at their 37 hospitals located throughout the UK. With over 25 years of experience, their highly trained clinical and support staff are dedicated to looking after you.

Spire Healthcare hospitals continually strive to improve the hospital experience and clinical outcome for patients, publishing annual clinical outcome measures including rates for MRSA infection, for unplanned readmissions to hospital and for unplanned returns to the operating theatre. You can check out key patient satisfaction measures at each Spire Healthcare hospital and find out how Spire Healthcare keep MRSA rates so low in its 37 hospitals.

Spire Healthcare hospitals are registered with the Care Quality Commission in England, the Care Commission in Scotland, and the Care Standards Inspectorate in Wales.

Low knee replacement wound infection rates

Spire Healthcare hospitals work very hard to keep surgical wounds clean:

• All their hospitals have a very high proportion of single rooms which is recognised to dramatically reduce infections spreading.
• All Spire Healthcare staff are trained in exceptional hand hygiene to minimise any risk of cross-infection.
• Spire Healthcare nurses have the right skills and experience to apply dressings to keep wounds clean.
• Spire Healthcare help patients to mobilise as soon as possible to speed recovery.
• Operating theatres with laminar air flow is used for all major orthopaedic operations. Laminar air flow is an air filter system that cleans the surrounding air during surgery.

Knee surgery

Knee replacement operation

During a knee replacement operation, the damaged or worn parts of the thigh and shin bones, which form the knee joint, are replaced with metal and plastic parts that glide over each other smoothly.

The knee replacement surgery is usually done under general anaesthesia, which means that you will be asleep during the operation. However, for some patients, epidural or spinal anaesthesia is preferable. This completely blocks the feeling in your legs but you stay awake. 

You will be in hospital until you are able to walk safely with the aid of sticks or crutches. This will probably be three to five days after your knee replacement operation.

An artificial joint will usually last for at least ten years, after which it may need to be replaced.

Knee ligament surgery including anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

The cruciate ligament reconstruction involves replacing the torn anterior cruciate ligament of the knee with a graft. The graft is usually a section of tendon taken from another part of your knee, but sometimes it is from a donor or made from synthetic material. Your surgeon will choose the method most appropriate for you.

The operation is normally performed using arthroscopy (“keyhole” surgery) and usually lasts one to two hours. However a small number of people need surgery to open up the knee joint. Your surgeon will discuss which procedure is most suitable for you.

This operation is typically performed under general anaesthesia, which means that you will be asleep during the procedure. ACL reconstruction usually involves at least one night’s stay in hospital. Your surgeon will explain the benefits of having an ACL reconstruction, and discuss the associated risks and alternatives to the procedure.

Arthroscopy knee surgery

Arthroscopy is a “keyhole” operation that is used to look inside and treat joints, especially the knee joint. It is performed through very small cuts in the skin, using a narrow, tube-like telescope called an arthroscope.

Arthroscopy is useful for finding out what is causing symptoms, to deliver treatment for conditions such as arthritis and inflammation, to take small samples of tissue, or to repair damage to tissues and cartilage. The procedure is usually done as a day-case.

Arthroscopy knee surgery is usually done under general anaesthesia, which means that you will be asleep during the procedure, or for some patients, epidural or spinal anaesthesia is preferable. This will completely block the feeling in your legs but you stay awake.

Your surgeon will also explain the benefits and risks of having a knee arthroscopy, and will discuss the alternatives to the procedure.

Before you go home, a physiotherapist will also visit you to guide you through exercises to get your joint moving.

Following your arthroscopy surgery, you are likely to have some pain, stiffness and swelling around the joint, which may last a few weeks. Gentle knee exercises will help reduce stiffness and discomfort.

To find out more about having knee surgery in a Spire Healthcare hospital , please call your local Spire hospital – use the links below to find their number.

Where can I get treatment?

Self-pay treatment

You can choose to have one-off private treatment at a Spire Healthcare private hospital for most types of operations, procedures and tests. You’ll be seen quickly and receive your treatment at a convenient time.

As a self-pay patient, you don’t need private health insurance. Spire Healthcare will give you a single, all-inclusive fixed price for your treatment.

Benefits of one-off private treatment with Spire Healthcare

• Quality-assured medical and nursing care

• Treatment in a clean and comfortable private hospital

• Choice of appointment times

• Tour of the hospital before admission

• Continuous care from your consultant

• Pre-admission information about your procedure

• Written discharge guidance

• Private room with en-suite bath or shower, if you’re staying overnight

• Healthy vegetarian and snack options for all meals

• Use of a phone* ,TV and radio in your room

• Visitors at any time

• Free tea and coffee for your visitors

• Meals for visitors*

• Free parking for you and your visitors (subject to availability)
  

* You’ll need to pay extra for this

To request an information pack, a guide price for any one-off private treatment or to discuss your personal situation please call your local Spire Healthcare hospital or use our online enquiry form.

Contact details

Spire Healthcare - please call your local Spire Healthcare hospital

Email:       Online enquiry form 

Website:  www.spirehealthcare.com

Ratings and reviews on Spire Healthcare hospitals

Choosing a doctor, operation, or hospital, is a big decision; the more opinions a patient can gather, the more secure they feel with their ultimate choice.

The Private Healthcare UK “Ratings and Reviews” system allows patients to record their experiences of treatment and to read the opinions and comments of other patients..

• Read reviews about treatment at Spire Healthcare hospitals

• Write a review about treatment at Spire Healthcare hospitals

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