Knee problems
Torn cartilage and meniscus, ligament injuries, kneecap pain and knees stiffened by arthritis.
Knees, hips and sports injuries, from first scan to final rehab session
Northgate Orthopaedics is the practice of a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and a small team who assess painful or injured joints, arrange scans and talk through every option with you, including the ones that involve no operation at all.
45 minutesfor a first consultation
Scansarranged from the same visit
Rehabplanned before any operation
Joints and injuries we assess
Surgery is one option among several, and often not the first one we suggest. Each problem below starts with a consultation and, where it helps, a scan.
Hip problems
Groin and hip pain, worn hip joints and the stiffness that makes stairs, socks and long walks harder.
Sports injuries
Twists, tears and impact injuries from running, football, netball, skiing and other sport, at any level of play.
Joint replacement
Partial and total knee replacement and total hip replacement, discussed once the other options have been weighed.
Keyhole surgery
Arthroscopy, a look inside the joint through small cuts, to trim or repair cartilage and ligaments where that is sensible.
Second opinions
A fresh look at a diagnosis or a planned operation, with your scans and letters read before you arrive.
Your first consultation, in plain words
The surgeon starts by asking what happened, what hurts and what you would like to be able to do again, whether that is kneeling in the garden or playing a full match. A gentle examination follows, comparing the sore joint with the other side, so wear loose shorts or trousers that roll up above the knee.
When an X ray or MRI scan would change the plan, it is booked before you leave and the results are explained at a short follow up. You go home with a written summary of what was found and the options discussed, and nothing is decided on the day unless you want it to be.
- Bring scan reports and a list of your medicines
- A friend or relative is welcome to sit in
- A chaperone can join whenever you would like one
- Interpreters booked when you mention it ahead
From scan to rehab: how a treatment path unfolds
Not everyone walks every step. Plenty of patients stop at the second or third, once a plan without an operation is doing its job.
Consultation
Your history, an examination and a first view of what is causing the pain.
Scans and tests
X rays, an MRI or an ultrasound scan when the result would change the plan, explained to you in person.
A shared decision
Physiotherapy, injections, a brace, waiting or surgery, set out side by side with the likely benefits and risks of each.
Surgery, if chosen
A health check before the operation, a written quote and a date planned around work, family and sport.
Rehabilitation
Exercises from the first day, physiotherapy sessions and reviews until you and the surgeon agree it is time for discharge.
Where you will be seen
The consulting rooms, the imaging suite and the rehab gym share one floor, so most visits need a single lift ride and no long corridors.
Consultation, scan and surgery fees
Illustrative starting prices for patients paying themselves. Every operation is quoted in writing after your consultation.
| Appointment or treatment | What it covers | From |
|---|---|---|
| First consultation | 45 minutes with the surgeon, examination and a written summary | $260 |
| Follow up consultation | Scan results and a decision on next steps | $150 |
| X ray | One joint, reported by a radiologist | $90 |
| MRI scan | One joint, reported by a radiologist | $480 |
| Guided joint injection | Steroid or lubricating injection into one joint | $340 |
| Knee arthroscopy | Surgeon, theatre and day case stay, quoted in writing | $5,800 |
| Hip replacement | Surgeon, theatre, implant and hospital stay, quoted in writing | $16,500 |
Written quotes list what is included and what is not, such as physiotherapy after discharge. Whether insurance or a public health system pays, and whether a referral letter from your own doctor is needed first, depends on your country and your policy. Please give 48 hours' notice to move or cancel a consultation.
From patients after their discharge (example reviews)
The surgeon sketched the knee on a notepad and explained why physiotherapy came first. Surgery stayed on the table, just not yet, and that felt honest.
Every cost for the hip operation was written down before a date was set, and the rehab plan arrived the same week. Not one surprise on the bill.
Arrived on crutches after a football tackle, had the MRI that afternoon and a plan by Friday. The rehab team kept the return to training realistic.
A bone that may be broken, heavy bleeding, or chest pain or breathlessness after an operation: call your local emergency number now. A new injury that worries you today belongs on the phone, not the form.
Phone the practiceAsk for a consultation with the surgeon
Tell us which joint is troubling you and roughly when it started, then pick a date and whether mornings, afternoons or the evening clinic suit you. The practice secretary answers inside one working day with an offered slot, and says whether your insurer or health system wants a referral letter first.
The form is read in office hours only. For an injury that needs care today, phone us; if it is an emergency, dial the emergency number where you are.
- Your slot is held once the secretary confirms it
- Patients paying themselves and insured patients alike
- Bring any scan discs or reports you already have
Before you book
Does a referral letter have to come first?
That depends on where you live and how you pay. Some insurers and public health systems ask for a letter from your family doctor, while patients paying for themselves can often book directly. The secretary checks this with you before the appointment.
Will surgery be suggested at the first visit?
Rarely on the spot. The surgeon explains what the examination and any scans show and sets out the options with and without an operation. You are welcome to go away, talk it over and come back with questions.
How long is recovery after a knee or hip replacement?
It differs a great deal from person to person, depending on the joint, your general health and the work you put into the exercises. The surgeon gives you a realistic outline for your own case before you agree to anything, and the rehab plan is written down.
Can a new sports injury be seen quickly?
New sports injuries are offered the next consultation slot, usually within the week, and scans can often be done the same day. If you cannot put weight on the leg or the joint looks out of shape, go to urgent care first.
What are the risks of surgery?
Every operation carries risks, such as infection, blood clots, stiffness or a result that falls short of what was hoped. The surgeon goes through the risks of your particular operation in conversation and in writing, and there is no pressure to decide on the day.
Is physiotherapy done here as well?
Yes. The rehab gym is on the same floor and its physiotherapists work from the surgeon's notes. If you would rather do your rehab closer to home, we send a written plan to your own physiotherapist.
Finding the consulting rooms
Northgate sits two floors up in a medical block beside the ring road. The lift opens opposite reception, and two parking bays by the entrance are kept for patients on crutches.
Practice secretary
Second floor consulting rooms in a medical block beside the ring road, with a lift, wide doors and two parking bays kept for patients on crutches
Clinic hours
| Monday to Friday | 08:30 to 17:30 |
| Late clinic, Tue and Thu | to 19:30 |
| Rehab gym, Saturday | 09:00 to 13:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
After an operation
If something worries you after surgery with us, ring the on call line printed on your discharge letter. For heavy bleeding, chest pain or breathing problems, call your local emergency number straight away.