Hip and knee surgery

Our orthopaedic teams care for the hip and knee together, from the first painful joint through to replacement. We combine joint-preserving surgery with partial and total joint replacement, some of it robotic-assisted and computer-guided. For most people, surgery isn't the first move but follows non-surgical treatment.

What is hip and knee surgery?

Hip and knee surgery is the branch of orthopaedics that focuses on the hip and knee, the main weight-bearing joints in your legs. It covers conditions such as arthritis, ligament and cartilage injuries and joint damage after an accident, in adults and children. Your surgeon diagnoses the problem, guides non-surgical treatment first, and operates when needed, then oversees your recovery. Unlike a rheumatologist, who manages joint disease with medicines, a surgeon repairs or replaces the joint itself.

When should you see a hip or knee surgeon?

Book an appointment if you notice:

• Hip or knee pain that limits walking, stairs or daily activities
• Joint pain that continues at rest or wakes you at night
• Stiffness that makes it hard to bend or straighten the joint
• A knee or hip that gives way, catches or locks
• Swelling that keeps coming back after activity
• Pain or limping that hasn't settled with rest and simple painkillers

It also helps to see a surgeon early when arthritis or an old injury is making a joint steadily worse, because starting treatment sooner keeps more options open. A hip or knee problem that limits your daily life is reason enough to be seen, even before you've had a diagnosis. A joint that becomes hot, swollen and painful very quickly, sometimes with a fever, needs urgent medical advice, as it can be a sign of infection.

What to expect

At your first visit, the surgeon asks about your pain, how it affects daily life and any past injuries, then examines how the joint moves and bears weight. An X-ray is often the first test, as it shows joint space, wear and alignment. If a ligament or cartilage problem is likely, you may also have an MRI scan, which shows the soft tissues an X-ray can't.

Treatment usually starts without surgery, through physiotherapy, pain relief and changes to your weight and activity. If the joint is badly worn or damaged, the surgeon may discuss repair, or partial or total joint replacement. They'll talk you through what each option involves and agree the next step with you. After surgery, physiotherapy helps you rebuild strength and movement, and your surgeon checks that the joint is healing well.

Hip and knee surgery at Mediclinic

We look after hip and knee problems across our hospitals in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Our orthopaedic teams work through the whole path, from joint-preserving surgery to hip and knee replacement. When an earlier replacement wears, we also carry out revision surgery. A dedicated knee clinic in Dubai cares for everyone from young athletes to people living with arthritis. Some of its knee replacements use robotic assistance for precise implant positioning. It also treats sports and ligament injuries, including in children and teenagers, and cartilage and ligament repairs are often done through keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery. Where a problem sits outside the joint itself, we work with our rheumatology, physiotherapy and pain teams.