Knee replacement surgery

You’ll only need a knee replacement if your knee gives you pain, stiffness, instability or loss of function that affects your daily life and activities.

In a healthy knee, the ends of your thigh and shin bones are covered with hard cartilage which allows the bones to move easily against each other. Arthritis damages the hard cartilage so that it becomes thin. In places the cartilage may wear away so that your bones rub against each other and become worn.

In a knee replacement operation, the worn ends of the bones and any remaining hard cartilage are removed and replaced with metal and plastic parts. The plastic acts like hard cartilage, helping your joint to move freely. The interlocking parts of the artificial joint allow your knee to bend while also making it more stable.

You won’t necessarily need a knee replacement if you have arthritis of the knee. But it may be worth considering if your knee is damaged by arthritis and the pain, disability or stiffness are having serious effects on your daily activities.

Even then, your healthcare team will always try other measures before suggesting a knee replacement, including drug treatments, physiotherapy and weight loss. If your symptoms are still manageable and your medication is effective then you may prefer to wait.

Your orthopaedic surgeon will be able to advise you on the surgical options and the potential pros and cons of having or delaying surgery, taking into account your age, health and level of activity.

Most people who have a knee replacement are over 60. The earlier you have a knee replacement, the greater the chances that you’ll eventually need further surgery. However, there’s evidence that the surgical outcome may be better if you don’t wait until your knee becomes very stiff or deformed.

Are there any reasons why I can’t have a knee replacement?

Unfortunately, some people may not be able to have a knee replacement even though their arthritis is very bad. This may be because:

• your thigh muscles (quadriceps) are very weak and may not be able to support your new knee joint
• there are deep or long-lasting open sores (ulcers) in the skin below your knee, increasing your risk of infection.

The four main types of knee replacement surgery are:

1. total knee replacement
2. unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement
3. kneecap replacement (patellofemoral arthroplasty)
4. complex or revision knee replacement.

There are several kinds of replacement knee joint as well as different surgical methods. Your doctor and orthopaedic surgeon should help you to choose the best option for you, taking into account the condition of your knee and your general health.

Read more about the four main types of knee replacement surgery:

Total knee replacement

Most total knee replacement operations involve replacing the joint surface at the end of your thigh bone (femur) and the joint surface at the top of your shin bone (tibia).

A total knee replacement may also involve replacing the under-surface of your kneecap (patella) with a smooth plastic dome. Some surgeons prefer to preserve the natural patella if possible, but sometimes the decision will need to be made during the operation.

If you’ve had a previous operation to remove the patella altogether (patellectomy), this won’t stop you having a knee replacement, but it may affect the type of replacement part (prosthesis) your surgeon uses.

The new parts are normally cemented in place. If cement is not used then the surface of the component facing the bone is textured or coated to encourage bone to grow onto it, forming a natural bond.

Another common technique is to use a mobile plastic bearing which isn’t firmly fixed to the metal parts. This may help to reduce wear on your new joint, though it isn’t hasn't been shown to provide better long-term results.

Unicompartimental partial knee replacement

If arthritis affects only one side of your knee – usually the inner side – it may be possible to have a partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement.

There are three compartments of the knee – the inner (medial), the outer (lateral) and the kneecap (patellofemoral). If arthritis affects only one side of your knee – usually the inner side – it may be possible to have a half-knee replacement (sometimes called unicompartmental or partial replacement). Because this involves less interference with the knee than a total knee replacement, it usually means a quicker recovery and better function.

Partial knee replacements can be carried out through a smaller cut (incision) than a total knee replacement, using techniques called reduced invasive or minimally invasive surgery. A smaller incision may further reduce the recovery time.

Partial knee replacement isn’t suitable for everyone because you need to have strong, healthy ligaments within your knee. Sometimes this won’t be known until the time of surgery.

Research shows that people who have partial knee replacements are more likely to have the knee revised than people who have a total knee replacement – about 1 person in 10 needs further surgery after 10 years. Even though the operation involves less interference with the knee it is often a more complex operation than total knee replacement. Your surgeon may therefore prefer to offer you a more predictable total knee replacement.

Partial knee replacement can be considered at any age. For younger people, it offers the opportunity to preserve more bone, which is helpful if you need revision surgery at a later stage. For older people, partial knee replacement is a less stressful operation with less pain and less risk of bleeding. The outcome of the surgery, however, depends on the type of arthritis, rather than your age.

Kneecap replacement (patellofemoral arthroplasty)

A kneecap replacement involves replacing just the under-surface of the kneecap and its groove (the trochlea) if these are the only parts affected by arthritis.

It's possible to replace just the under-surface of the kneecap and its groove (the trochlea) if these are the only parts affected by arthritis. This is also called a patellofemoral replacement or patellofemoral joint arthroplasty.

The operation has a higher rate of failure than total knee replacement – which may be caused by the arthritis progressing to other parts of your knee. Some surgeons advise a total knee replacement as the results are more predictable. Others feel that it’s better to preserve the rest of the knee joint if it isn’t affected by arthritis.

The operation is only suitable for about 1 in 40 people with osteoarthritis. However, the outcome of kneecap replacement can be good if the arthritis doesn’t progress and it’s a less major operation offering speedier recovery times. More research is needed to understand which people are likely to do well with this operation. 

Complex or revision knee replacement

A complex knee replacement may be needed if you're having a second or third joint replacement in the same knee, or if your arthritis is very severe.

Some people may need a more complex type of knee replacement. The usual reasons for this are:

• major bone loss due to arthritis or fracture
• major deformity of the knee
• weakness of the main knee ligaments.

These knee replacements usually have a longer stem, which allows the component to be more securely fixed into the bone cavity. The components may also interlock in the centre of the knee to form a hinge to give greater stability. Extra pieces of metal and/or plastic may be used to make up for any removed or badly damaged bone.

This type of operation may be needed if you’re having a second or third joint replacement in the same knee, and could be better from the start if you have very severe arthritis.

There are several possible advantages of knee replacement surgery. These include:

• freedom from pain
• improved mobility
• improved quality of life because everyday activities and exercise are easier.

Research has shown that four out of five people who've had knee replacement surgery are happy with their new knees. For those people who aren't happy, the main cause for dissatisfaction is continuing pain which may not be due to a problem with the operation. This is more of a risk if you have relatively minor joint damage (which may still cause severe symptoms) before surgery. If your joint damage isn't very severe it may be better to carry on with non-surgical treatments rather than risk a poor outcome from surgery.

Possible disadvantages of knee replacement surgery can include replacement joints wearing out over time, difficulties with some movements and numbness.

We now know that knee replacements aren't so likely to be effective in the early stages of arthritis. We can be much more confident of a good outcome where the arthritis is more advanced.

The possible disadvantages of knee replacement surgery include:

• A replacement knee can never be quite as good as a natural knee – most people rate the artificial joint about three-quarters normal.
• Most knee replacements aren’t designed to bend as far as your natural knee. Although it’s usually possible to kneel, some people find it uncomfortable to put weight on the scar at the front of the knee.
• You may also be aware of some clicking or clunking in the knee replacement.
• You may have some numbness at the outer edge of the scar to begin with. This usually improves over about two years but it’s unlikely that the feeling will completely return to normal.
• A replacement knee joint may wear out after a time or may become loose.

Most knee replacements will last for 20 years or more, so younger patients are more likely to need a repeat knee operation at some point in later life. The chances of needing repeat surgery are increased if:

• you’re overweight
• you do heavy manual work.
• you run or play vigorous sports.

Although your knee can be replaced again if necessary, revision surgery is more complicated and the benefits tend to lessen with each revision.

Most doctors recommend non-surgical (conservative) treatments before considering a knee replacement. These include:

• Diet
  losing weight will reduce the strain on your knee.
• Exercise
  Even though this may be difficult because of the pain, there's usually some form of non-impact exercise (for example swimming or cycling) that you can start gently and which will improve the strength and flexibility of your knee.
• Drugs
  Painkillers can reduce the pain in your joint, while non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help if your knee is swollen.

Generally these don’t provide such good results as a new knee joint but they may allow you to delay having a knee replacement operation for some years.

If you’ve tried these options, you may want to think about the surgical alternatives to knee replacement:

Arthroscopic washout and debridement

Keyhole surgery techniques (arthroscopy) to smooth damaged cartilage and remove debris from the knee joint can only be used in very specific circumstances. If there are mechanical symptoms such as 'locking' of the knee then removing loose fragments of bone and cartilage may avoid having to have a knee replacement at that stage. There's no evidence that it's of benefit for arthritis generally.

Microfracture

This operation, which is performed by keyhole surgery, involves making holes in exposed bone surfaces with a drill or pick. This encourages new cartilage to grow from the bone marrow. The technique isn’t recommended for advanced arthritis.

Osteotomy

This is an operation which may help younger patients. It involves cutting the shin bone crosswise, creating a wedge to shift the load away from the area affected by arthritis. Osteotomy may be considered as a way of putting off a knee replacement operation. However, it can make it more difficult to carry out a successful total knee replacement later on – especially if during the osteotomy the surgeon has to cut through the medial collateral ligament at the inner surface of the knee.

Rarely, if the outer part of the knee is affected by arthritis, this operation is performed on the end of the thigh bone to shift load inwards.

Autologous chondrocyte therapy (ACT)

If only the hard cartilage is damaged, new cartilage can be grown in a test tube from your own cells. The new cartilage is then applied to the damaged area. This technique is mainly designed to repair small areas of cartilage damage resulting from accidental injury to the knee joint. It isn’t yet proven for arthritis and would only be suitable for younger patients whose cartilage cells are more active. It's usually therefore only done as part of a research trial, as are newer techniques using stem cells.

It's a good idea to make sure your general health is as good as it can be before your operation, for example if you have other health problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure. It’s also advisable to have a dental check-up and get any problems dealt with well before your knee operation. There’s a possible risk of infection if bacteria from dental problems get into the bloodstream.

Your orthopaedic surgeon will probably suggest exercises to strengthen the muscles at the front of your thigh (quadriceps), which often become weak with arthritis. The stronger these muscles are before surgery, the quicker your recovery is likely to be. Exercises that involve raising your foot against gravity are best.

Pre-admission clinic

You'll probably be invited to a pre-admission clinic a few weeks before surgery. You’ll be examined to make sure you’re generally well enough for the anaesthetic and the operation. This may include the following tests:

• blood tests to check for anaemia and to make sure your kidneys are working properly
• an MRSA swab to check that you’re not carrying resistant bacteria  
• a urine sample to rule out infection
• an electrocardiograph (ECG) tracing to make sure your heart is healthy.

You should also discuss with your surgeon, anaesthetist or nurse whether you should stop taking any of your medications or make any changes to the dosage or timings before you have your surgery. Different units may have different views.

You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about your operation and discuss anything you’re concerned about. Start planning for your return home and recovery arrangements.

You may also meet a physiotherapist or occupational therapist, who’ll talk about the exercises you’ll need to do after your surgery, your arrangements for going home, and special equipment to help you manage at home. If you’re not invited to see an occupational therapist and you’re worried about coping at home after the operation, you should ask about home help and aids when you go for your pre-admission clinic.

Going into hospital

You’ll probably be admitted to hospital on the day of surgery. You’ll be asked to sign a consent form if you haven't already completed one, which gives the surgeon permission to carry out the treatment. It's important to ask any questions you may still have at this stage. Your knee will then be marked for the operation.

You'll be asked if you're willing for details of your operation to be entered into the National Joint Registry (NJR) database. The NJR collects data on hip and knee replacements in order to monitor the performance of joint implants. It is only by measuring the outcomes of all knee replacements that we can learn what works best and for which patients.

If you're taking drugs that affect blood clotting, such as warfarin and clopidogrel, you should follow instructions to prevent too much bleeding during and after surgery.

The operation

Just before your operation you’ll be walked or taken in a chair or bed to the operating theatre. You'll probably be given a sedative medication (a pre-med) while waiting in the admission ward. You’ll then be given an anaesthetic. Most knee replacements are now done under either a spinal or an epidural anaesthetic. These numb the body from the waist down, but you'll remain awake throughout the operation. If you have a general anaesthetic instead, you may also be given a nerve block – this will block pain in your leg for up to 36 hours after surgery but will also weaken the leg temporarily. Many surgeons instead inject a type of local anaesthetic into the tissues around the knee during the operation to numb the pain but still allow the muscles to work so you can get up sooner after the operation. 

The operation itself may take from as little as 45 minutes to over two hours, depending on how complex the surgery is.

Most people can leave hospital between one and four days after having knee replacement surgery. You'll need to make arrangements for wound care and you'll usually have follow-up appointments from six weeks after your operation.

After the operation

Before going back to the ward you’ll spend some time in the recovery room, where you may be given fluids and painkillers through a tube in your arm. This may include:

• patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) – a system where you can control your own supply of painkiller going into a vein by pressing a button
• painkilling injections or tablets.

Oxygen therapy is likely to be given through a mask or through tubes into your nose. 

There's often no need to have a blood transfusion because your body can replace any blood lost during or after surgery. If the operation is more extensive you may need blood from a donor. An alternative is to recycle the blood which drains from your knee – returning it into your body through a tube in a vein (auto-transfusion).

After the first day or so, the tubes giving you painkillers, fluids or oxygen therapy will be removed. You may have a tube (catheter) inserted for a few days to drain urine from your bladder, especially if both knees have been replaced at the same time.

Pain will usually be worse on the second or third day after surgery when the anaesthetic and strong medication wears off, and you’ll probably need painkillers to control this. Without them it’ll be difficult to do the exercises needed to strengthen your muscles and restore mobility.

How quickly you get back to normal depends on many factors, including:

• your age
• your general health
• the strength of your muscles
• the condition of your other joints.

Enhanced Recovery Programme

Most people are able to start moving about soon after surgery, which is good for lung function and the circulation.

The hospital team encourage most people to follow the enhanced recovery programme (ERP). This aims to get you walking and moving within 12–18 hours and home within four days. If you're suitable, the ERP will start when you go for your pre-admission clinic to make sure you’re fully prepared for the surgery and understand the programme.

After the operation the programme aims to get you moving and eating normally as soon as possible, and when you’re discharged from hospital you’ll be given supporting therapy and follow-up checks. The programme focuses on making sure that you take an active role in your own recovery process.

Getting mobile

Nursing staff and physiotherapists will help you to start walking. If you've had minimally invasive surgery or are on the ERP, this may be on the same day as your operation. At first you’ll need crutches or a walking frame. If you’ve had a spinal anaesthetic or nerve block you’ll have very little feeling in your leg for the first day or two, and it's important to be aware of your state of recovery to avoid falling over.

You may have a temporary brace called a cricket pad splint on your leg if there’s a risk of weak ligaments, deformity or poor wound healing. This is designed to support your knee until your muscles are working effectively.

Your physiotherapist will be able to advise you on getting about and will explain the exercises you need to do to keep improving your mobility.

Versus Arthritis have recently awarded a grant to the TRIO study, which will look at the effect of targeting specific physiotherapy at patients who are having problems six weeks after having a knee replacement. The aim of the study is to see whether early treatment gives a better outcome one year after the operation.

Going home

It’s usually possible to go home as soon as your wound is healing well and you can safely manage to get about at home with the help of crutches or a frame. Most people can leave hospital between one and four days after having knee replacement surgery. Before you leave hospital an occupational therapist or physiotherapist will explain the best ways to get dressed, take a shower and move about, and they'll assess what equipment you might need to help you.

You should also make arrangements for wound care. If you have stitches or clips that need removing, this can be done on a return visit to hospital, at home by a visiting nurse or at your GP’s surgery.

You’ll usually have a follow-up hospital appointment about six weeks after your operation to check on your recovery. Further follow-up appointments are also usually recommended.

If you stopped taking any of your regular drugs before the operation, it’s very important to talk to your rheumatologist for advice on when you should restart your medication.

Returning to work

Usually you can return to work when you feel comfortable that you can continue with your normal role. If you sit down most of the day at work, this may be in six to eight weeks, but if your job involves standing for long periods of time or manual work you may need 10–12 weeks. If your job involves heavy manual work, you should discuss with your employer whether a lighter alternative can be found when you return to work as heavy lifting may damage the replacement joint.

Your new knee will continue to improve for as much as two years after your operation as the scar tissue heals and you exercise your muscles. You'll need to look after yourself and pay attention to any of the following problems:

Stiffness – Sometimes the knee can become very stiff in the weeks after the operation for no obvious reason. Try placing your foot on the first or second step of the stairs, hold on to the banister and lean into your knee. This should help to improve movement and flexibility in your knee. It’s very important to continue with the exercises you were working on in the hospital.If the stiffness doesn’t improve after about six weeks your surgeon may need to move or manipulate your knee. This will be done under anaesthetic.

Pain – Pain caused by bruising from the operation is normal in the first two months, and you'll probably still need to take painkillers at six weeks to help you sleep through the night. You may still have some pain for as long as six months. If you still have pain after this, speak to your physiotherapist or GP.

Swelling – Swelling is a very common problem after a knee replacement, particularly affecting the ankle and foot, and may last for up to three months or so after the operation. The ankle swelling usually settles as your walking ability improves. Swelling of the knee itself is also common over the first few months after surgery. Applying ice can be very helpful for a swollen joint, but make sure you protect your skin from direct contact with the ice pack. Ice can be applied for up to 20 minutes at a time. Raising your foot above hip height (on a footstool or similar) is another good way of reducing swelling, but make sure you get up and walk around for at least five minutes every hour to help reduce the risk of a blood clot.

Infection – You should speak to your GP or hospital if you notice any signs of infection, for example:

• breakdown of the wound with oozing/pus or sores
• increased pain
• redness and the affected area feeling warmer than usual or smelling unpleasant.

You should also look after your feet – see a doctor or podiatrist if you notice any problems such as ingrown toenails that could become infected.

Walking

It's important to use crutches or walking sticks at first because the thigh muscles (quadriceps) will be weak after the operation, and falling could damage your new joint. Don't twist your knee as you turn around. Take several small steps instead. 

After two weeks, or sooner if you’re confident, you can go down to one crutch and then a walking stick. After about six weeks, if your muscles feel strong and supportive, you can try walking without aids. This process may take less time if you’ve had a partial knee replacement or longer if you’ve had a more complex operation.

You should be able to walk outside within three weeks of having surgery but make sure you wear good supportive outdoor shoes. After three weeks, try to take longer strides so you can fully straighten (extend) your leg.

Going up and down stairs

When going up stairs put your unoperated leg onto the step first, then move your operated leg up. When going down stairs, put your operated leg down first, followed by your unoperated leg.

Sitting and kneeling

Don’t sit with your legs crossed for the first six weeks. You can try kneeling on a soft surface after three months when the scar tissue has healed enough. Kneeling may never be completely comfortable but should become easier as the scar tissue hardens.

Sleeping

You don't need to sleep in a special position after knee surgery. However, you shouldn't lie with a pillow under your knee. Although this may feel comfortable it can affect the muscles, making it difficult to straighten your knee.

Household jobs

You should be able to manage light household tasks like dusting or washing dishes. But avoid heavier jobs like vacuuming or changing the beds, or get help with them, for the first three months. Avoid standing for long periods as this could lead to your ankles swelling. If you’re ironing, sit down if possible and take care not to twist. Avoid reaching up or bending down for the first six weeks.

Driving

You’ll be able to drive after your joint replacement as long as you can safely control the vehicle and do an emergency stop. It’s important to check with your insurance company whether you’re covered during your recovery, and you need to be confident that you can control the vehicle in all circumstances.

You'll probably be able to drive again six weeks after a full knee replacement or about three weeks after a partial knee replacement. If you’ve had surgery on your left knee and you drive an automatic you should be able to drive earlier as long as you’re not taking strong painkillers.

Getting back to normal

It will be some weeks before you recover from your operation and start to feel the benefits of your new knee joint. Make sure you have no major commitments – including long-haul air travel – for the first six weeks after the operation.

Keeping up your exercises will make a big difference to your recovery time. You’ll probably need painkillers as the exercise can be painful at first. Gradually you’ll be able to build up the exercises to strengthen your muscles so that you can move more easily.

Exercise and sport are recommended after knee replacement, apart from contact sports, which may weaken the cement and lead to loosening of the joint components. Recreational sports – including golf, tennis and skiing – will gradually become possible depending on how fit and sporty you were before the operation. Cycling is a very good way of building up strength and mobility after knee surgery.

Exercising the main muscle groups around your knee is very important both before and after having a knee replacement. You can download a selection of exercises that are designed to stretch, strengthen and stabilise the structures that support your knee. Try to perform these exercises regularly, for instance for 10 minutes six to eight times a day. However, it’s important to find a balance between rest and exercise so you don’t overwork your knee. It’s a good idea to get advice from your doctor or physiotherapist about specific exercises before you begin.

Most knee joint operations are problem-free but about 1 person in every 20 may have complications. Most of these complications are minor and can be successfully treated.

The risk of complications developing will depend on a number of factors including your age and general health. In general, a younger patient with no other medical problems will be at a lower risk of complications.

It's important to remember that any drugs used throughout your stay in hospital, for example anaesthetic or painkillers, may also have side-effects. Your surgeon or anaesthetist will be able to discuss these with you.

Blood clots

Blood clots which form in the deep veins in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) can cause pain and/or swelling. This is because of changes in the way blood flows and its ability to clot after surgery. There are various ways to reduce the risk of this happening, including special stockings, pumps to exercise the feet and drugs that are given by injection such as heparin.

Blood-thinning drugs can increase the risk of bleeding, bruising or infection so your surgeon will need to balance these risks. Rivaroxaban, dabigatran and apixaban are tablets to help prevent DVT which have recently become available as an alternative to injections. The tablets are more convenient than injections, which makes them easier to take at home. However, they still carry a risk of bleeding.

Pulmonary embolism

In a very small number of cases a blood clot can travel to the lungs, leading to breathlessness and chest pains. In extreme cases a pulmonary embolism can be fatal. However, it’s usually possible to treat pulmonary embolism with blood-thinning drugs and oxygen therapy.

Wound infection

As with all operations, there’s a small risk that the wound will become infected. This happens in about 1 in 50 cases. Usually the infection can be treated with antibiotics. About 1 in 100 patients develops a deep infection, which may mean removing the new joint until the infection clears up.

In extreme cases, where the infection can’t be cured, the knee replacement has to be removed permanently and the bones fused together so the leg no longer bends at the knee. Very rarely, the leg may have to be amputated above the knee and replaced with an artificial leg – but this is extremely unusual.

Nerve and other tissue damage

There's a small risk that the ligaments, arteries or nerves will be damaged during surgery.

• Fewer than 1 in 100 patients have nerve damage and this usually improves gradually in time.
• About 1 in 100 have some ligament damage – this is either repaired during the operation or protected by a brace while it heals.
• About 1 in 1,000 suffer damage to arteries that usually needs further surgery to repair.
• In about 1 in 5,000 cases blood flow in the muscles around the new joint is reduced (compartment syndrome). This usually also needs surgery to correct the problem.

Bone fracture

The bone around the replacement joint can sometimes break after a minor fall – usually after some months or years and in people with weak bones (osteoporosis). This is extremely rare but when it happens further surgery is usually needed to fix the fracture and/or replace the joint components.

Dislocation

When a mobile plastic bearing is used there is a small risk of dislocation of the knee, and this would need further surgery.

Pain

For most people, pain gradually eases during the first few months after surgery. However, some people have ongoing pain or develop new types of pain. Research shows that 10–20% of people still have moderate or severe pain in the long term.

This isn’t always caused by a technical fault or recognisable complication, and therefore it can’t be fixed by a repeat operation. This complication is known as complex regional pain syndrome. Some hospitals have pain clinics that can help with this.

Stiffness

Some people experience continuing or increasing stiffness after surgery. Usually this resolves with exercise, and as the swelling improves. Pain may contribute to this complication by stopping the patient from doing physiotherapy exercises and allowing scarring to glue together the soft tissues around the joint.

Occasionally knee stiffness may be treated by a manipulation of the joint under anaesthetic, followed by intensive physiotherapy.

For 80–90% of people who have total knee replacement, the new joint should last about 20 years, and it may well last longer.

If you've had a partial knee replacement, you're more likely to need a repeat operation – about 1 person in 10 needs further surgery after 10 years.

The chances of needing another operation is greater if you're overweight and/or involved in heavy manual work.

Revision surgery

Some people need a repeat knee replacement operation on he same knee. This is called a revision. The repeat operation is more difficult than the first, but the techniques are becoming more routine and more successful all the time. If you’re having a second or third operation on the same leg, your surgeon may suggest using the more complex knee replacement components rather than the standard type.

Helping patients to make informed decisions 

We're funding research to improve patient experience before, during and after knee replacement surgery. This includes a project based at the University of Sheffield which aims to help patients make informed decisions about their surgery. The research team will use the UK National Joint Registry dataset to develop and validate a personalised, web-based decision aid to help patients considering knee joint replacement to make informed choices about their treatment.

Understanding why some joint replacements fail

We're also supporting research to improve the outcome of knee replacement surgeries, such as a project aimed at increasing the understanding of why joint replacements sometimes fail by investigating whether there are genetic risk factors that influence surgery outcome. This research has the potential to improve patient experience and increase the life of the joint replacement.

TRIO study

Our TRIO study is investigating the effect of targeting specific physiotherapy at patients who are functioning poorly after knee replacement surgery. The aim of this study is to find out whether this early treatment improves pain, satisfaction and function after a year. If successful, it could benefit more than 15,000 patients per year in the UK alone, who are not satisfied with their knee replacement one year after the operation.

Providing better after care for patients

We're funding research which aims to provide a standardised approach and assessment for virtual clinic follow-up of total joint replacement patients and subsequent management of patients identified as 'at risk' by this approach. This study would enable us to deliver better and more streamlined after care for patients.

Looking for alternatives to total knee replacements

We're also funding research which is investigating alternative approaches to total knee replacement. For example, total knee replacement is not recommended for many young people. This study aims to develop a new method called ToKa®, which uses images of the patient's joint and specially designed software to design a patient specific implant that will be made via 3D printing. If successful, this technique could prevent osteoarthritis patients from needing total joint replacement.

Super-fit Alan thought his days of fell-running were over when surgeons told him the articular cartilage in his knee had worn away and knee replacement surgery was his only option.

However, Alan decided to investigate further.

He ended up at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry as the first person to undergo surgery to repair his osteoarthritic knee with a combination of stem cells and chondrocytes. This is the procedure now to be trialled as part of the Arthritis Research UK programme grant.

‘I was very much a guinea pig and was told that if the operation didn’t work the first time, I could have it done again,’ says Alan. He paid privately to have the operation and was fully aware of the unpredictable outcome of such surgery.

The procedure involved two operations; first to take stem cells from his pelvis, which were grown in the laboratory, and the second to implant them back into his knee six weeks later.

Rehabilitation and running

Progress afterwards was slow and laborious. Alan was offered a full rehabilitation programme by the Oswestry team but also took advantage of help from close friend David Galley, a physiotherapist with Liverpool FC, who devised a rigorous exercise regime. Alan started as soon as he was off crutches six weeks after surgery.

For two years he did aqua jogging and then cycling, and lots of exercises to strengthen his quadriceps muscles. Then Alan started running again, taking part in a five-mile trail race.

After suffering no ill-effects he started to run again in earnest. He completed the Grizedale Duathlon: four miles of fell running and a 14-mile bike ride, followed by a further four mile fell race. Although his knee was a little sore afterwards, an ice pack applied on the way home did the trick.

‘I’m very happy with it. I went back to hospital last year for an MRI scan and the cartilage had regrown. The nurse told me it was cartilage they would expect to see in a 30 or 40-year-old.’

Professor Richardson adds a word of warning: ‘Mr Bourne was heading for a joint replacement and so we considered it reasonable to try something that was a development of the work we have been doing at Oswestry for over 12 years. In the short-term he has a good result; I don’t know how long this will last.’

Mr Bourne’s experience is not likely to be repeated as the RJAH is not planning to perform the procedure on any other patient, either privately or on the NHS, outside the planned clinical trial.

You can read more of our supporter stories on our Your stories page.