Knee Surgery

We currently have four consultant knee surgeons working at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. These are Professor Harvey, Mr Blakeway, Mr Willis-Owen and Mr Pavlou. A dedicated team of surgeons support the consultants and will ensure you receive the best treatment possible.

The types of procedures we offer are outlined below:

Knee arthroscopy

In a knee arthroscopy, a small camera is inserted on a telescope into the knee to examine the knee internally. Arthoscopy can also be known as keyhole surgery and is a very common procedure. It can be used just to view the joint, or to repair damaged areas. It is often completed under general anaesthetic as a day surgery, with no inpatient stay required.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction

The ACL, found in the centre of the knee, stabilises the joint and can become torn. ACL reconstruction is a major surgery to restore stability after a tear and is performed under general anaesthetic. It is usually a day surgery.

Total knee replacement

The aim of total knee replacement surgery is to reduce pain and increase mobility. If arthritis has affected one or more areas of the knee joint, then the ends of the femur and the tibia are replaced with metal implants and a plastic insert is placed between them. If there is significant arthritis on the underside of the kneecap, then this can be smoothed surgically. Occasionally a plastic button is implanted underneath the kneecap.

Unicompartmental knee replacement

The aim of unicompartmental knee replacement surgery is to reduce pain and increase mobility. It can be used when arthritis has affected just one area of the knee joint. The surgery replaces the end of the femur and the tibia with metal implants and a plastic insert is placed between them. This can be completed as a day case procedure or with one night in hospital.

You can access the orthopaedic patient information leaflets by clicking here