Total Knee Replacement
Mr Kosuge’s Patient Information Booklet on Knee Osteoarthritis. Please click on image to access the leaflet.
Do I Need a Total Knee Replacement?
Knee replacement is most commonly performed for osteoarthritis of the knee, though it may also be appropriate for rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and other conditions causing severe joint damage. Mr Kosuge may recommend knee replacement if you have:
Persistent knee pain that significantly affects your daily activities and has not responded to non-surgical treatments
Pain that limits your ability to walk, climb stairs, or rise from a chair
Pain at rest or at night that disturbs your sleep
Significant deformity of the knee, such as bowing inward or outward
X-ray evidence of advanced joint degeneration
Mr Kosuge takes a thorough and unhurried approach to assessment, ensuring that non-surgical options such as physiotherapy, weight management, and injections are considered before recommending surgery. The decision to proceed will always made jointly with you.
What is Total Knee Replacement Surgery?
Knee replacement surgery — also known as total knee arthroplasty — is a highly effective procedure that involves removing the damaged surfaces of the knee joint and replacing them with carefully designed metal and plastic components. It is one of the most frequently performed operations in orthopaedic surgery and consistently delivers significant improvements in pain, function, and quality of life.
Mr Dennis Kosuge is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in knee replacement surgery, based at The Rivers Hospital in Sawbridgeworth (private) and The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in Harlow (NHS). He serves patients from across West Essex and East Hertfordshire, including Bishop's Stortford, Epping, Hertford, Chelmsford, Ware, and Hoddesdon.
Mr Kosuge’s Patient Information Booklet on Total Knee Replacement surgery. Please click on image to access the booklet.
The Procedure
Total knee replacement is performed under spinal anaesthesia (less commonly general anaesthesia) and typically takes between one and two hours. The damaged bone and cartilage from the end of the thighbone (femur), the top of the shinbone (tibia), and the back of the kneecap (patella) are removed and replaced with prosthetic components.
Majority of patients begin walking with the support of physiotherapy on the day of or the day following surgery. The typical hospital stay is one to two days.
Recovery
Recovery from total knee replacement generally takes six to nine months, with most patients experiencing a marked reduction in pain within the first few months. Mr Kosuge provides detailed written information to support your recovery and monitors your progress using validated patient-reported outcome measures.
Mr Kosuge's patient outcome data, collected independently, is available to view on this website and reflects his commitment to transparency and high-quality care.
Book a Consultation
If you are suffering from knee pain and would like an expert assessment, Mr Kosuge welcomes private referrals at The Rivers Hospital, Sawbridgeworth. He is recognised by all major health insurers including BUPA, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, and WPA. Self-pay patients are also welcome.
To book an appointment, please call 01279 602675 or use the online booking link on this website.
NHS patients may be referred by their GP to The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.