Knee replacement at Spire Alexandra Hospital

At Spire Alexandra, we offer a comprehensive knee replacement service to patients in Medway and the surrounding areas of Kent and the South East. Our private hospital has two extensively equipped operating theatres, backed up by an extended recovery unit with 24 hour support.

Our dedicated team of surgeons, nurses and physiotherapists will deliver a treatment and aftercare plan that’s personal to you to help you get the most from your operation.

At Spire Alexandra, we have wide experience of performing knee replacement surgery in our high-quality facilities, including two operating theatres with laminar flow. These theatres regulate air flow to reduce the risk of infection.

If your consultant thinks it’s right for you, they may perform a minimally invasive knee replacement. This usually means a faster recovery time and less scarring, while still achieving the same outcomes.

We’re also proud to offer ConforMis custom implants which are manufactured using your exact knee measurements for a better fit and alignment after surgery. Your consultant will explain the different prostheses available to you in your consultations.

Getting here

You'll find us approximately eight miles from Maidstone and five miles from Chatham. The nearest railway station is Chatham, a 10 minute taxi journey away. We have free parking available for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

For your appointments, you’ll meet your consultant in one of our 13 consultation rooms. All of our rooms are accessible, making things easier if you find walking difficult prior to knee replacement.

Our dedicated orthopaedic consultants specialise in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal (bone and muscle) conditions. Here’s what will happen before your treatment:

• If you haven’t been diagnosed yet, your consultant will use our advanced scanning, imaging and diagnostic technologies to look at your knee and help them understand the cause of your pain or mobility problems
• Once you’ve been diagnosed or if you have a referral, your consultant will then discuss treatment options with you
• Before recommending a knee replacement, they may suggest hydrocortisone joint injections or knee arthroscopy first

Your consultations give you an opportunity to ask questions and discuss your expectations, needs and desires. Your consultant will then be able to outline a treatment and care plan that’s tailored to you.

On the day of your operation, our ward staff will show you to your own private room.

If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge or restaurant while you have your operation.

Once you’re ready, you’ll prepare for your operation and be given your anaesthetic. You’ll have either:

• General anaesthetic where you’re unconscious
• An epidural or spinal anaesthetic where you're numb from the waist down – your anaesthetist may give you a sedative to help you relax

During the operation, your surgeon will make one or more incisions and remove damaged or worn parts of your knee joint. They’ll then insert your new prosthetic joint. The operation should take around two hours. You’ll probably stay with us for two to five days after your operation, until we feel you’re ready to go home and continue your recovery there.

After knee surgery, you can begin your recovery in one of our 25 private rooms. All our rooms have:

• TV
• En-suite bathroom
• Window
• Armchair
• Wardrobe

Our nursing team will give you pain relief to help you deal with any pain from the surgery. Everyone experiences pain differently and they’ll make sure you’re comfortable and have everything you need.

Although everybody’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical recovery timeline for knee replacement surgery: