How to Choose the Right Surgeon for Knee Replacement

Volume matters. Surgeons performing more than 50 knee replacements a year — and more than 30 partial knee replacements specifically if you are considering UKA — consistently report lower complication rates and better outcomes.

Sub-specialisation matters. An orthopaedic surgeon who focuses on knee surgery and publishes on knee outcomes is a different proposition from a general orthopaedic surgeon doing occasional knees.

Communication matters. The surgeon should answer specific questions with specific numbers, welcome second opinions and present both partial and total replacement options where relevant. A surgeon who only ever does one operation is unlikely to be objective about whether you are a candidate for the other.