Orthopaedics

Arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive operation that involves passing a camera and small tools into a joint through small incisions (surgical cuts). At the Royal Free Hospital Private Patients Unit, specialists regularly perform arthroscopy of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee and ankle.

Benefits of arthroscopy can include:

• Information about diagnosis and prognosis
• Treatment such as repair of meniscal tears or rotator cuff tears

Arthroscopy is a very common procedure. Complications are rare, however, as with any surgery, there are some risks to arthroscopy:

• The medications used in the anaesthetic may cause problems such as vomiting (sickness) after the procedure, in rarer cases, allergic reactions or breathing problems can occur
• As with all surgical procedures, arthroscopy can also carry a small risk of bleeding or infection

Severe osteoarthritis can be a disabling condition. Joint replacement surgery has been a huge breakthrough in helping those affected to remain mobile and independent.

At the Royal Free Hospital Private Patients Unit, patients who require joint replacement surgery can expect the convenience, comfort and personalised attention of a private hospital combined with state-of-the-art technology and the professional experience you would expect from a top London teaching hospital.

Specialists at the Royal Free Hospital Private Patients Unit perform world-class shoulder replacement, total elbow replacement, total hip replacement and total knee replacement operations, along with specialist hip revision surgery.

All joint replacement procedures are registered with the National Joint Registry, which offers in-depth information about joint replacement surgery for patients.

Benefits of joint replacement surgery can include:

• Pain relief
• Increased mobility
• Improved independence.

Although uncommon, as with any other surgery, there are risks to joint replacement surgery. These include infection, bleeding and adverse reactions to anaesthesia. Other complications can include:

• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in the leg) or pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung)
• Persistent joint stiffness
• The need for further surgery.

ACL rupture is a common injury of the knee that can lead to recurrent giving way and difficulty participating in sports and exercise. ACL reconstruction involves using healthy tissue (usually from the thigh) to recreate a functional ligament, followed by a programme of rehabilitation.

Benefits of ACL reconstruction followed by rehabilitation can include:

• Reduced pain and swelling, particularly after exercise
• Freedom from the knee collapsing unexpectedly
• Ability to return to sports

In addition to the risks of anaesthesia and surgery in general, potential complications of ACL reconstruction can include:

• Pain over the front of the knee
• Limited range of knee movement
• Damage to nerves in the leg

PRP is a state-of-the-art treatment that involves using the regenerative factors found in a patient’s own blood to encourage healing.

At the Royal Free Hospital Private Patients Unit, specialists offer PRP as an injection-based, non-surgical treatment for certain conditions. Consultants also use PRP and other regenerative techniques during surgical procedures to improve tissue healing.

As PRP comes from a patient’s own blood, the risk of an allergic or immune reaction to injection is very low. Other complications are also very rare, but may include:

• Pain, inflammation or infection at an injection site

Our leading consultants are experts in the use of modern orthopaedic techniques for the treatment of traumatic injury, such as: dynamic hip screw (DHS) and hemiarthroplasty following hip fractures; intramedullary nailing for fractures of long bones including the femur and humerus; open reduction and internal fixation using state-of-the-art implants for fractures such as the wrist, ankle and clavicle (collar bone).

Here at the Royal Free Hospital Private Patients Unit we can offer convenience, comfort and personalised attention to your care. We aim to deliver the high standard of care and safety that you would associate with an acute NHS hospital and we have the capacity to admit both adult and paediatric patients for private orthopaedic surgery.

Trauma surgery will be recommended only in cases where the benefits are considered to outweigh the risks. Nevertheless, complications can occasionally occur and may include:

• Anaesthetic complications, including allergic reactions
• Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
• Pressure ulcers (sores) from prolonged immobility
• Bleeding, infection or wound healing problems
• Damage to nerves or blood vessels

Our specialists are very experienced at performing these surgical procedures and will take every care to ensure your safety and comfort.