Our specialist teams provide care to manage a wide range of conditions affecting bones, joints and soft tissue of the hip and knee region.
We are a high volume orthopaedic centre carrying out over 1,000 hip and knee replacements every year. We also a wide range of expertise in treating various soft tissue knee disorders and joint preservation procedures.
Newcastle Hospitals is also one of the major revision centres in the UK where we support patients with complex and problematic joint replacements.
Accessing our services
To access our hip and knee services, you will usually require a referral from your local musculoskeletal service provider such as Tyneside Integrated Musculoskeletal Services (TIMS), your GP or another hospital consultant.
When you are referred into our service, you will be invited to attend an appointment in one of our consultant-led clinics. Our hip and knee clinics are based at either the Musculoskeletal Unit (MSU) at the Freeman Hospital or Fracture Clinic based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
When you do attend, please make sure you wear loose fitting clothes so that our clinicians can complete a full examination of your area of concern. If you require a chaperone then we are more than happy to provide one.
Please also be aware that you may be seen by a consultant or a member of their team during your appointment. Our clinics are consultant-led and run by clinicians with expertise in managing hip and knee conditions. This includes surgical care practitioners, trainee orthopaedic surgeons, advanced nurse specialists and physiotherapists as well as extended scope practitioners.
During your appointment, we will discuss your main concerns related to your hip or knee joint, your past medical history and any medications you take. You may also have additional investigations such as x-rays or bloods taken so you may be in clinic longer than expected. Please bear this in mind when making arrangements to attend.
If you have an appointment scheduled in our department and you need to change it then please use the following contact details below:
Appointment Booking Centre: 0191 282 4444
Treatments we offer
We provide specialist surgical and non-surgical treatment options to manage a number of conditions ranging from joint replacements, keyhole surgeries, ligament reconstructions and injection therapies.
Our consultants have expertise in caring for patients from aged 16 onwards and some of our consultants also provide care to our children and young person’s services.
Hip procedures
Our hip specialist consultants and their teams can provide in depth diagnosis and advice on managing various conditions affecting your hip joint.
We help support people to manage various conditions such as osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, perthes disease, impingement syndromes and trauma-related hip disorders.
You can expect to receive expert clinical advice on the best treatment options, onward bespoke referrals to colleagues related to our services (such as rheumatology) and where indicated, surgical options to help with your management. Some of the most common treatments we offer include:
Hip replacement surgery – this is usually carried if you have worn or damaged hip joint most commonly due to arthritis. A hip replacement uses prosthetic implants to replace the whole hip joint thereby improving your pain and function. (Link to hip replacement patient info – https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/resources/total-hip-replacement/)
Hip resurfacing – this procedure is carried out when only the surfaces of your hip joint are worn and damaged usually due to arthritis. These surfaces are trimmed then replaced with a prosthetic cap to cover them. It aims to preserve most of your hip joint thereby maximising your function as well as improving your pain.
Knee Procedures
Our knee specialist consultants and their teams have a wealth of experience in managing various conditions affecting the knee joint. We have a specific team of consultants who specialise in treating soft tissue knee disorders including ligament reconstructions and key hold surgeries. Many of our surgeons are highly trained in carrying out knee replacements.
Upon meeting our knee specialist team, you will receive specialist advice on the most suitable treatments to manage your knee problems. This may include both non-surgical treatments through to surgical interventions. The most common treatments we offer can be seen below:
Knee replacement surgery– This is usually carried out if you have damaged or worn areas of your knee joint usually due to arthritis or previous trauma. A knee replacement aims to replace these damaged parts with a prosthetic implant thereby improving your pain and mobility. Many of our knee replacements are now being carried out with advanced robotic technology which aims to increase the precision of the surgical cuts.
(Link to knee replacement patient info – https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/resources/knee-replacement-surgery/ )
ACL reconstruction – the most commonly damaged ligament that we treat is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). If you have had a severe tear to your ACL that is affecting your quality of life then you may be referred to one of our knee specialist surgeons for consideration of an ACL reconstructive surgery. A graft taken from nearby soft tissue is used to replace the torn ACL and following a period of rehabilitation improves the stability and function of your knee joint.
Knee arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) – if you have damage within your knee joint such as your meniscus or cartillage that is impacting on your knee function then you may be suitable keyhole surgical intervention. This involves the use of a camera and surgical instruments to look inside your knee joint and treat any areas of damage such as a torn meniscus.
Our consultants
At Newcastle Hospitals, our orthopaedic consultants have a wealth of experience in treating disorders and injuries of the hip and knee joint. Together, they have expertise in diagnosing and treating a range of conditions.
| Mr Sharad Bhatnagar |
| Mr Steve Borland |
| Professor David Deehan |
| Mr Philip Dobson |
| Miss Sarah Eastwood |
| Mr James Holland |
| Mr Munawar Hashmi |
| Mr Martin Marsh |
| Mr Kenneth Rankin |
| Mr David Weir |
Locations of our services
Our hip and knee services are delivered across a number of different sites across Newcastle Hospitals.
Outpatient Clinics
If you are having an initial appointment or a follow-up after surgery then you will usually be seen at either our Musculoskeletal Unit at the Freeman Hospital or Fracture Clinic at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Inpatient and Daycase Units
Most of our planned hip and knee surgeries are carried out at the Freeman Hospital where we have three dedicated units specialised in the care and recovery following many orthopaedic procedures.
Ward 19 Freeman Hospital – this is our main orthopaedic ward where you will be looked after following your surgery. Ward 19 has a team of nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists who have specialist skills in orthopaedic care. Most of our hip and knee joint replacements, complex ligament reconstructions and bone tumour surgeries are treated here. This ward follows an enhanced recovery approach to your care where you will be supported to be active in your recovery both before and after your surgery.
Ward 4 Freeman Hospital – this ward carries out many daycase procedures where you will be admitted and go home the same day. If you are having a knee arthroscopy (keyhole surgery), ACL reconstruction or biopsies then you may be looked after on this ward. Ward 4 is also the main admission unit for major surgeries (such as hip or knee replacement) so you may be advised to attend here in the morning of your surgery prior to being transferred to the main elective orthopaedic ward.
Day Treatment Centre (DTC) – the DTC is our dedicated daycase centre located next to the Freeman Hospital Building. Procedures ranging from knee arthroscopies, ligament reconstructions as well as hip and knee replacement surgeries are carried out here. If your surgery is planned here then your admission, procedure and recovery are based all within this building.
