Knee Replacement FAQ

Preparation is identical to hip replacement. Stop smoking, reduce alcohol, stay active, eat well and stay hydrated. Blood glucose, blood pressure, skin conditions and nutrition should all be optimised before your admission date. Any medications that need adjusting will be discussed individually well in advance.

Mr Kozdryk will see you before surgery to confirm consent, answer questions, mark the correct limb and ensure everything is in place — exactly as described for hip replacement.

The preference is spinal anaesthesia with sedation, supported by nerve blocks around the knee. These blocks are designed to keep you comfortable for at least 16 hours after the operation. In the rare situation where spinal anaesthesia is not suitable, a general anaesthetic can be performed, though this carries a slightly higher risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Approximately one to one and a half hours for the surgery itself, with the full ward-to-ward journey typically around three hours.

It can be, and it is important to be honest about this. The knee tends to produce more swelling and discomfort in the first one to six weeks. Swelling often travels down to the ankle, which can feel alarming but is entirely normal and settles with elevation and movement. Your pain management plan is carefully tailored to keep you as comfortable as possible throughout.

The aim is to mobilise on the same day as surgery. Before you go home, the physiotherapy team will work with you to achieve approximately 90 degrees of knee bend — enough to sit, manage stairs and be comfortable at home.

Most patients go home within one to two days. The same criteria apply as for hip replacement — safe mobilisation with crutches, a clean wound and well-controlled pain.

No. Mr Kozdryk closes wounds with intradermal dissolving stitches beneath the skin in virtually all cases — no clips or external sutures to remove.

After knee replacement you will take aspirin 150mg daily for 14 days. If you are on anticoagulant medication, an individual plan will be agreed with you in advance.

At two weeks, a nurse will check your wound. Mr Kozdryk will review you in clinic at six weeks to assess your progress, X-rays and bloods. Most patients are discharged from follow-up at this point.

Around six weeks, once you can perform an emergency stop without pain. Test yourself in an empty car park before returning to normal roads.

Knee recovery is gradual and slightly slower than hip. Range of movement, strength and swelling all continue to improve between six and twelve weeks. Most patients return to their full activities between four and six months. Consistent physiotherapy through this period makes a significant difference to the final result.

Most knee implants will trigger metal detectors. No special card is needed — simply inform security staff.

Yes. All implants are MRI-safe and require no special precautions.

Knee implants are typically a combination of cobalt chrome and titanium, with highly cross-linked polyethylene functioning as the new cartilage surface between the components.

Approximately 90% of patients report a good to excellent outcome. Around 5–8% feel their knee is meaningfully better than before surgery but still experience some ongoing discomfort. A small number — fewer than one in a hundred — feel their pain is worse than before the operation. This remains an area of active research, and it is something Mr Kozdryk will discuss honestly with you before any decision about surgery is made.

Mr Kozdryk can be contacted by email at any time, or via WhatsApp in an emergency, and will personally reply within 24 hours.