Total Knee Replacement in Sussex
£10 600 All inclusive package price - Aug 2018 only.
This includes all consultant fees, hospital costs, medicines and gadgets to go home with and aftercare.
The new knee implant we use is the best in the National Joint Registry for how long it lasts in the most recent edition (2017). We think this is amazing value.
There are no hidden costs.
However if you need an x-ray as part of the initial conultation there is a seperate fee for this (naturally we can use x-rays from eslewhere or MRI scans - please bring them on a disc or tell us 48Hrs ahead of the consultation). Finally if you opt for the state-of-the-art professional level ice machine (which we use in Hospital) at home for 4 weeks afterwards on a hire basis this is a direct hire from the ice machine company, Game Ready, at £300 including delivery and pick up from your home. That's it, plus ice.
Just ring Deborah on 0345 912 1000- generally from call to surgery can be 2 weeks, a certain amount of time is required to weigh up the information.
Why us?
We are obsessed with detail and advancing knee replacement outcomes and experience.
We focus on maximum comfort after knee replacement with a rapid recovery combined with reliability of outcome.
The National Joint Registry of England and Wales data shows Mr Lewis is in the top 10 of surgeons in terms of experience over the last 5 years in all knee implants (partial and full knee replacements). He is a trainer for visiting Surgeons from the UK and beyond who come to observe and discuss. Additionally he is a regular invited speaker abroad and in the UK. That's enough about him.
What do we do that is different?
Knee replacement has a reputation of having a painful recovery, understandably this is daunting.
It also has a reputaion of being a bit hit and miss, so some people have a good result and some less so. This means that if your natural knee becomes painful and knee replacement becomes your favoured option one can feel somewhat stuck between a rock and a hard place. We have changed this.
We have worked out a method as to not cause the pain that has been assosciated with knee replacement. We call this the "no hammer technique". On youtube you will see surgeons bashing the knee with quite a large hammer. No wonder. We have developed a glide techniquie, a simple but brilliant innovation, as indeed most innovations are.
We also use a tourniquet-free technique which further reduces pain and swelling. Not only does the knee recieve oxygen and nutrients during the proceedure, the total blood loss is also less. Clever. The tourniquet-free technique also reduces the risk of wound problems, thrombosis risk and preserves all of the muscle bulk as opposed to the common tourniquet method in which one looses 20% of muscle bulk for 6 months. These are the very muscles one needs after knee replacement.
Our philospohy for comfort is simple: firstly minimise the creation of pain at surgery by being super gentle combined with avoiding a tourniquet, secondly use a sophisticated medical/"pill" regime to prevent pain. Most, if not all, patients report "no pain" at the knee or "less pain than the arthritic pain" in the recovery. We are excited.
We have worked to modify our cement technique to ensure optimum fixation for both load transfer and longevity of the knee. It takes longer but be are convinced that it is substantially better than the traditional way. Better load transfer from the new knee implant across the cement to the bone means better outcomes. Our observation of this has recently been reported in studies that show non ideal cementing which occurs in 17% of patients is assosciated with lower outcome scores from the patient's perspective. It makes sense.
In terms of predictabilty and reliability of outcome, we only offer knee replacement in those who "need it" and have exhausted other options. This means that the bone upon which we place the knee replacement has gone through a hardening process. In plain English: the bone foundations are good. Early knee replacement on softer bone is assosciated with poorer outcomes. We discuss your options to avoid this.
At Surgery we work with a tight knit regular team, there are no stand-in surgeons.
Technically we slope match the contours of the natural knee. It may surprise you that most surgeons don't they tend to give all patients the same angles irrespective of the petient's origonal angles - this can lead to tightness and reduced bend. The above gentle "no hammer" combined with a tourniquet free approach substantially reduces the inflammatoty response and thus scarring after knee replacement. All of this facilitates "a good bend".
Data? Our recovery rates are 3x as quick as the local NHS hospital and 2x as quick as all the other surrounding Hospitals. Not bad. We are collecting data on comfort levels and look forward to sharing this with you. Our current data is patients have less knee pain in thier early 2 week recovery than the old arthitic pain, despite just having had a new knee.
Initially we were surprised, now it is normal, for a knee replacement patient to walk in at 2 weeks check-up carrying the stick in mid air and simply walk across the room - with a smile. One chap came on his bike.
We are excited!
We listen, explain, take time and openly discuss your options. It doesn't matter to us what you choose, only that we have been able to help assess and help you understand what is happening in your knee and support you in your choice. That is our role in the Clinic.
In the Hospital our role is excellence, safety, kindness and pushing the boundaries to conitually improve outcomes and experience.
Finally Cost. At £10600 for August 2018, this is the best value around, by quite a margin.
If you would like to meet to discuss your knee please Ring Deborah on 0345 912 1000 for an appointment.
If you have had scans or x-rays elsewhere please mention this.
James, July 2018.
Modern Knee Replacements are more akinn to an 8mm resurfacing (or recoating) of the damaged surfaces, taking away pain and straightening the leg. A good up to date knee replacement will give a knee that feels like your own at least most of the time, that is strong, stable and restores quality of life.
We offer 2 brands of knee replacement.
- The best knee replacement in England and Wales from the National Joint Registry data according to how long it will last. This is the PFC Total Knee replacement with an all polymer Tibia (top of shin bone).
- The best knee replacement accoring to how it performs. This is the Conformis Knee Replacement. It should be said that the Conformis knee may well last a long time but we don't yet have 10 year data ( we have 7 year). Currently it is on track to be a long lasting knee.
Knee replacement recovery is much quicker than it used to be - see this article in the papers here.
How much does a knee replacement cost?
£11 499 all in - this cost can also be spread over 12 months interest free (subject to status) for the leading PFC. (Note the August discounted price)
£14 300 For the Conformis Knee plus scan.
Fed up with the NHS process, rationing and queues?
Local NHS waits of 9 months are The country seems short of money, unfortunately planned knee replacements are being rationed and yet it revolutionises the lives of people. If you wish to discuss your options or consider knee replacement then this is how:
1. Phone 0345 912 1000 for an appointment (generally within 36 hours)
2. Have an xray and discuss your options
3. Pick a date to suit you - with 2 weeks if you wish.
The operation takes about an hour to 1 ¼ hours. Your Knee replacement is a called a PFC Sigma, made by DePuy, a Johnson and Johnson company. It is the UK's leading knee replacement being used in 40% of knee replacements. It is designed for function and performance.
It has excellent long term results. The component on the lower end of the thigh bone is made from a highly polished and smooth cobalt chrome alloy. It is thin enough to mean very little bone is removed, but strong enough to allow full use afterwards.
The surgeon removes the worn surface, shapes the bone to receive the component and when an accurate position and fit is achieved, it is then secured with antibiotic loaded orthopaedic bone cement. The back of the kneecap is resurfaced with special low friction, high molecular weight polyethylene, this improves outcome rather than leaving the back of the kneecap unresurfaced. The top of the shin bone is recovered with the same low fiction polyethylene, either with a supporting metal base or simply with a component made wholly from the polyethylene material. All are fixed with bone cement.
The PFC total knee replacement was developed in Boston, Massachusetts by Tom Thornhill and Richard Scott. I was taught the "tricks of the trade" during my training to optimise the results from it. Subsequently I gained appointment as a Joint Replacement Fellow in their unit at Boston. There I learnt from the surgeon designers, saw them carry out the operation and discussed technical aspects of the operation with them.
I have visited other leading Surgeons in the USA, Australia and the UK to see what they do that others don't.
The tips and tricks learned means that:
- Your knee replacement surgery will be more reproducible
- You are much more likely to have a good knee that will improve your quality of life
- You will have a lower risk of complications
James, July 2018