Concierge orthopaedics · UK
Knee surgery, matched to your pathology and your life.
The full UK knee-surgery spectrum — arthroscopy, ligament, cartilage, osteotomy, kneecap and replacement — under one honest brief. BASK-registered consultants, NJR-tracked implants, shared-decision consultations per NICE NG226.
Why patients choose us
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A BASK-registered knee surgeon, every time
Not a generalist and not a trainee. Every referral is to a consultant on the British Association for Surgery of the Knee register, high-volume for the operation you actually need.
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The right operation, in the right order
Knee surgery is a spectrum — arthroscopy, ligament, cartilage, osteotomy, kneecap, replacement. We match the pathology to the operation before you commit to anything.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no hospital, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private knee surgery costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner hospitals. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
Knee surgery in our UK network runs £3,500 to £22,000 depending on the operation — arthroscopy at one end, robotic-assisted TKR at the other.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical stay | Return to sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consultant knee surgeon consultation | £150–£350 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Knee MRI (3T, contrast if needed) | £250–£500 | 30 min | 24–48 h report |
| Knee arthroscopy (meniscal repair / chondroplasty) | £3,500–£6,500 | Day-case | 2–6 weeks |
| ACL reconstruction (autograft ± InternalBrace) | £8,500–£13,500 | Day-case | 9–12 months |
| MPFL reconstruction (kneecap stabilisation) | £8,000–£12,500 | Day-case | 4–6 months |
| High tibial osteotomy (HTO) | £10,500–£15,500 | 1–2 nights | 6–9 months |
| MACI cartilage repair (NICE TA477) | £12,000–£18,000 | Two stages | 9–12 months |
| Unicompartmental knee replacement (Oxford UKA) | £12,500–£17,500 | 1–2 nights | 3–6 months |
| Total knee replacement (TKR) | £14,500–£19,500 | 2–3 nights | 3–12 months |
| Robotic-assisted TKR (MAKO / ROSA / Cori) | £16,500–£22,000 | 2–3 nights | 3–12 months |
| Genicular artery embolisation (non-surgical) | £4,500–£7,500 | Day-case | 4–12 weeks |
Prices vary by hospital, by which consultant does the case, by implant choice, and by whether robotic assistance is used. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right operation, the right surgeon, the right order.
Knee surgery goes wrong most often before the incision — wrong indication, wrong surgeon, wrong sequence. Selection is the operation. Rehab is the operation. The implant is a footnote.
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Not sure surgery is needed?
NICE NG226 puts weight, physiotherapy and injections first for osteoarthritis. We put that on the table before you commit to theatre.
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Facing a knee replacement?
Unicompartmental, total, patellofemoral, robotic-assisted — each fits a different knee. We match the pathology to the implant.
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Young knee, complex problem?
ACL, cartilage, meniscal repair, osteotomy — the preservation surgery that keeps you out of a replacement for a decade or more.
The journey
From enquiry to rehab — what happens, in order.
One coordinator, one surgeon, one physiotherapy plan — from first message through to twelve-week review.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
Day-case or one to three nights
Phase 3 · After
Specialist knee physio
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Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, MRI or X-ray if you have them, what you have tried already, and what you want to get back to.
- 02
Before
We come back with a shortlist
Within one working day: the two or three BASK-registered knee surgeons who best fit your pathology, with indicative pricing and honest wait times.
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Before
Consultation and imaging
A £150–£350 initial consultation, MRI arranged if needed (£250–£500), and a shared-decision conversation about surgery versus non-surgical options per NICE NG226.
- 04
On the day
Admission on the day
Consent, marking, chat with the anaesthetist. Most knee surgery is day-case; replacement and complex reconstruction are one to three nights.
- 05
On the day
The operation itself
Arthroscopic keyhole for meniscus and cartilage; open or robot-assisted for replacement and osteotomy. A named consultant surgeon does the case.
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On the day
First-day mobilisation
Physio has you weight-bearing the same day for most procedures. Ice, elevation, and a specific rehab plan handed over before you leave.
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After
Specialist knee physio and review
Rehab is not optional — it is the operation. Specialist knee physiotherapy from week one, with surgeon review at two, six and twelve weeks.
Typical end-to-end: 2–6 weeks from enquiry to theatre (private). Full rehabilitation: 3–12 months depending on procedure.
When it helps
When knee surgery is the right step.
The situations that lead to a knee operation, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Meniscal tear with mechanical symptoms
Locking, catching or a giving-way knee after a twisting injury — often a repairable tear on MRI.
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ACL rupture
A pop, immediate swelling, and instability on pivoting — reconstruction is discussed for active adults per BASK guidance.
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Recurrent kneecap dislocation
A patella that keeps popping out — MPFL reconstruction is the mainstay for recurrent instability.
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Cartilage defect (focal)
A discrete cartilage hole on MRI in a young knee — microfracture, OATS or MACI on the table.
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Malalignment osteoarthritis
Bow-legged or knock-kneed OA in the under-60s — osteotomy realigns the load and delays replacement.
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End-stage osteoarthritis
Rest pain, night pain, and a knee that has stopped working — unicompartmental or total replacement.
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Failed conservative care
Three to six months of physio, weight optimisation and injections have not shifted the symptoms.
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Red flag: hot, swollen, febrile knee
A hot, red, swollen knee with fever is possible septic arthritis or prosthetic infection — same-day A&E, not a clinic booking.
Procedure options
The full knee-surgery spectrum, in plain English.
Every operation a UK knee surgeon might reasonably suggest — with the sub-page for the detail once you know which one you need.
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Knee arthroscopy
Keyhole surgery for meniscal repair, selective meniscectomy, chondroplasty, loose body removal and synovectomy. See /treatments/knee-arthroscopy.
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Ligament reconstruction
ACL (hamstring, BPTB or quadriceps autograft ± InternalBrace), PCL, MCL, PLC and multi-ligament. See /treatments/knee-preservation-surgery.
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Meniscal surgery
All-inside, inside-out and outside-in repair, partial meniscectomy, and meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) for the right candidate.
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Cartilage repair
Microfracture, MACI (NICE TA477), OATS autograft and osteochondral allograft — chosen by defect size, depth and location.
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Osteotomy (realignment)
High tibial osteotomy, distal femoral osteotomy, tibial tubercle osteotomy and trochleoplasty. See /treatments/knee-realignment-surgery and /treatments/high-tibial-osteotomy.
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Patellofemoral surgery
MPFL reconstruction (/treatments/kneecap-stabilisation), tibial tubercle transfer, patellofemoral joint replacement (/treatments/kneecap-joint-replacement-surgery) and lateral release.
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Knee replacement (arthroplasty)
Unicompartmental (Oxford UKA), total (TKR — see /treatments/knee-replacement), patellofemoral (PFR) and revision knee replacement.
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Robotic-assisted replacement
MAKO, ROSA and Cori navigation for TKR and UKA — see /treatments/computer-assisted-navigation-total-knee-replacement.
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Non-surgical specialist options
Genicular artery embolisation (/treatments/genicular-artery-embolisation), hyaluronic acid (/treatments/hyaluronic-acid-injections) and PRP for the right candidate.
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Regenerative and experimental
MACI, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC — investigational, not NICE-approved) and sub-chondral drilling for select cases.
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Knee trauma surgery
Tibial plateau ORIF, patellar fracture ORIF, MPFL primary repair, quadriceps and patellar tendon repair after acute injury.
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Infected knee replacement
Two-stage revision for prosthetic joint infection (PJI) — the reconstructive principles parallel /treatments/hip-revision-surgery.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of knee surgeons, we picked them.
BASK-registered consultants at high-volume centres across the UK — London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every knee surgeon in our network.
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BASK-registered consultants only — no generalists or trainees
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High-volume for the specific operation (NJR-tracked for replacements)
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Shared-decision consultations per NICE NG226 for osteoarthritis
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Specialist knee physiotherapy pathway built into every booking
Safety and selection
What actually determines a good knee-surgery outcome.
Knee surgery in the UK is safe and effective when the indication is right and the rehab is done properly. Both are within your control.
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Selection matters more than the implant
Age, activity, goals, comorbidity, BMI, occupation, pathology and imaging all shape the right operation. A robot cannot fix a bad indication.
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Conservative care first, per NICE NG226
Weight optimisation, structured physiotherapy and, where appropriate, injections come before surgery for osteoarthritis. Shared decision-making is mandatory.
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Rehab is the operation
ACL, cartilage repair, osteotomy and replacement all live or die by the rehab. Budget for six to twelve months of specialist knee physio.
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Wait times, honestly
NHS elective knee surgery is typically six to eighteen months by ICB. Private is usually two to six weeks from consultation to theatre.
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DVT and stiffness are the common risks
Chemical and mechanical thromboprophylaxis, early mobilisation, and manipulation under anaesthetic for stiffness if range does not progress.
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Infection is uncommon but serious
Around 1 percent for primary replacement. A hot, swollen, painful joint with fever is a same-day A&E problem, not a clinic problem.
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Robotic-assisted is a tool, not a magic wand
MAKO, ROSA and Cori improve alignment accuracy — the outcome still depends on indication, surgeon volume and rehab.
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Meniscal repair beats meniscectomy where possible
Preserving meniscus preserves cartilage. A repair is worth the longer rehab if the tear pattern allows it.
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Red flags
Hot, red, swollen knee with fever; sudden calf pain and swelling after surgery; wound discharge or dehiscence — all same-day medical review.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever knee operation was done, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note and the rehab protocol before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis, side and operation planned
Which knee, which pathology, which operation — and any alternatives that were discussed and declined.
- 02 Technique
Approach, implants and graft choice
Arthroscopic or open, robot-assisted or manual, graft type for ligament work, implant brand and size for replacement.
- 03 Findings
Intra-operative findings
What the surgeon actually saw — meniscal tear pattern, cartilage grade, ligament status, alignment measurements.
- 04 Impression
Weight-bearing, brace and rehab protocol
Read this first: weight-bearing status, brace settings, driving, return to work and sport, and the specific physiotherapy protocol.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for knee surgery varies by insurer and by indication — most reconstructive and replacement surgery is covered, robotic-assistance surcharges sometimes are not. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about knee surgery.
Quick answers on selection, cost, wait times, robotic assistance and how important the physiotherapist really is.
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How do I know which knee operation I actually need?
It depends on age, activity, goals, comorbidity, BMI, occupation, pathology and imaging findings — plus what conservative care has already been tried. A BASK-registered knee surgeon should walk you through the options in a shared-decision consultation before you commit to anything.
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How much does private knee surgery cost in the UK?
Initial consultation is £150–£350, MRI £250–£500, arthroscopy £3,500–£6,500, ACL reconstruction £8,500–£13,500, unicompartmental replacement £12,500–£17,500, total knee replacement £14,500–£19,500, and robotic-assisted TKR £16,500–£22,000. We confirm firm figures within one working day.
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How long is the NHS wait for knee surgery?
Elective knee surgery on the NHS is typically six to eighteen months by Integrated Care Board, longer for complex reconstruction. Private route is usually two to six weeks from consultation to theatre.
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Is robotic knee replacement (MAKO, ROSA, Cori) worth it?
Robotic-assisted platforms improve alignment accuracy and implant positioning, which matters most for unicompartmental replacement and complex primary TKR. It is a tool — the outcome still depends on the right indication, a high-volume surgeon and disciplined rehabilitation.
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Can I avoid a knee replacement?
Sometimes. For malalignment osteoarthritis in the under-60s, high tibial osteotomy or distal femoral osteotomy can delay replacement by a decade or more. Genicular artery embolisation, hyaluronic acid injections and structured physiotherapy also have a role. See /treatments/knee-realignment-surgery and /treatments/genicular-artery-embolisation.
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What is the difference between meniscal repair and meniscectomy?
Repair preserves the meniscus — better long-term cartilage protection, but a longer rehab (three to six months). Meniscectomy removes the torn portion — quicker recovery, but higher long-term arthritis risk. A good surgeon repairs whenever the tear pattern allows.
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How important is the physiotherapist?
It is the operation. ACL, cartilage repair, osteotomy and replacement all live or die by the rehab. Budget for six to twelve months of specialist knee physiotherapy — see /treatments/knee-physiotherapy.
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When should I see A&E rather than a knee clinic?
A hot, red, swollen knee with fever, sudden calf pain and swelling after surgery, wound discharge, or a locked knee that will not straighten after acute injury all warrant same-day emergency review.
Related treatments
Looking for something more specific?
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Knee arthroscopy
Keyhole surgery for meniscus and cartilage.
Learn more -
Knee replacement
Unicompartmental and total knee replacement.
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Knee preservation surgery
ACL, cartilage and multi-ligament reconstruction.
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Knee realignment surgery
Osteotomy — HTO, DFO, TTO and trochleoplasty.
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Specialist knee physiotherapy
The rehab that decides the outcome.
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High tibial osteotomy (HTO)
Realignment for medial OA in the under-60s.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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