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Osteoarthritis of the knee is a debilitating condition that results from loss of cartilage within the joint. The main symptoms are pain and stiffness around the affected knee which may be worse in cold weather. As the disease progresses you may experience trouble with everyday activities such as walking, driving a car or participating in recreational sports. In severe cases you may experience difficulty working or trouble sleeping. Mr Barnes will discuss both non-operative and operative treatment options with you, including knee replacement surgery.
Mr Barnes performs total knee replacement for a several important conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis following injury. He successfully performs over a hundred of these procedures each year and combines new technology with traditional methods, depending on the unique needs of each patient. There are many surgical options regarding knee replacement in terms of materials and design, and some patients may be suitable for a partial knee replacement. Mr Barnes will demonstrate and discuss these options in depth when you meet him at your appointment.
Knee replacement surgery is generally not recommended for younger patients except in certain circumstances. Younger patients tend to be more active and place more stress on their knee replacement which may cause it to wear out early. Revision knee surgery is often more complex and may result in higher rates of complications such as infection and pain. For this reason younger patients may benefit from another operation called an osteotomy which can delay or avoid knee replacement surgery. Osteotomy involves re-aligning the bone above or below the knee to relieve the symptoms of arthritis. Mr Barnes will discuss if you are suitable for this procedure during your appointment.
Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a serious injury that commonly occurs in sports such as AFL football, soccer, netball and basketball. The ACL is a major stabiliser of the knee that stops the tibia sliding forward on the femur. Most patients who have torn their ACL are unable to participate in sports that require pivoting movements or sudden changes of direction, and some will experience a feeling of “giving way” even during normal activities such as walking or climbing stairs. Mr Barnes performs ACL reconstruction using an arthroscopic or keyhole technique that allows patients to go home the first day after surgery.
Some patients may experience arthritis that damages only one compartment of the knee, leaving the rest of the knee relatively unaffected. Patients with this pattern of arthritis may be suitable for a partial or unicompartmental knee replacement that targets only the damaged part of the joint. The benefits of partial knee replacement include quicker recovery time, a shorter hospital stay, less blood loss and a greater range of movement when bending and straightening. In addition the main ligaments of the knee are preserved allowing patients a knee that “feels more like their own”. Mr Barnes is trained in partial knee replacement and will be happy to discuss this option during your consultation.
Mr Barnes has a special interest in worn out or painful knee replacements. This may be due to a number of causes including infection, loosening or mal-alignment of the implants. Mr Barnes will organise a series of specialised investigations to diagnose the reason for your painful replacement and then discuss the treatment options with you.
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