A knee replacement (total or partial) is made of 3 main parts. The bottom of the thigh bone and top of the shin bone are resurfaced with stainless steel implants. A polyethylene PE insert is then attached to the implant on top of the shin bone. Occasionally the back of the kneecap is also resurfaced with a PE “button”.

a . Most patients have a spinal anaesthetic. This involves an injection into the lower back and makes everything below the waist numb. These effects last around 3 hours and normal sensation and muscle power returns to allow people to mobilise on the day of their surgery. Most patients also have sedation or a light general anaesthetic as well as the spinal anaesthetic.

b . Some patients find the idea of a spinal anaesthetic scary. Be reassured that you will not see, hear or feel any part of your operation because of the sedation. Most patients have no memory of the procedure either. It is safer than having a general anaesthetic, and also provides excellent pain relief as well as reducing the risks of bleeding and developing blood clots.

Whether you have a hip or knee replacement you will stand up and walk within a few hours of your surgery. Most people stay in hospital for one or two nights and are discharged home after they are able to go up and down stairs. During your stay, you will have physiotherapy, and will be followed up by the team after discharge. They will advise you on further exercises and goals. Most patients are walking with no aids and without any pain by the time you are reviewed in clinic at 6 weeks.

i. DRIVING: you can drive when you are able to do an emergency stop and are in full control of your car. This usually takes 3-4 weeks.
ii. GOLF: you can start playing golf after 6-8 weeks. You should start by chipping and putting first and gradually build up the walking and twisting as your muscle strength and joint control improves.
iii. SWIMMING: You can go into the swimming pool after your wound has healed. This should be after 3 weeks. Walking in the pool is a very good form of exercise for your replaced joint. Swimming will take a longer, but you will be able to do any stroke by 8-10 weeks.
iv. GYM: Returning to gym activities will be monitored by the physiotherapy team. Low impact exercises such as the cross-trainer of walking on an incline can be started within 3-weeks. More strenuous activities and those involving weights should be started after 6 weeks and built up gradually.
v. CYCLING: A part of your post-operative recovery will involve going on a static cycle. Returning to full road cycling takes around 8 weeks and depends on the return of muscle strength and range of movement in the knee.
vi. TRAVEL: You can travel after 6 weeks. Your hip or knee replacement may be detected by the airport security checks, but with the use of modern devices their presence is quickly confirmed.

Your choice of private hospital will be able to give you an all-inclusive package price which includes all clinician fees, surgery, hospital stay and post- operative rehabilitation and follow-up appointments.

You can have both hips or both knees replaced at the same time. Occasionally your surgeon will recommend that this is the case. He will be happy to discuss the options regarding this during your clinic appointment.

Your hip replacement will be carried out through the posterior approach. Mr Veysi has used this approach with excellent outcomes for 20 years. While there are other approaches (such as the anterior approach) which are claimed to offer some advantages, their stated benefits are short-lived (if any) and associated with higher risks.