Dr Anthony Samson provides specialist care for knee conditions including arthritis, meniscal injuries, ligament injuries and complex or revision knee surgery. Using modern techniques and enhanced recovery pathways, treatment is tailored to each patient’s condition, lifestyle and recovery goals.
Knee pain can develop for a range of reasons, from gradual wear and tear through to injury, instability, inflammation or underlying joint conditions. Depending on the cause, knee symptoms may include pain, swelling, stiffness, catching, locking, weakness or a feeling that the knee may give way. These issues can affect your ability to walk comfortably, use stairs, exercise, work, kneel, squat or participate in everyday activities.
If your symptoms are persistent, worsening or limiting your movement, a thorough assessment can help identify the underlying cause and guide appropriate treatment options based on your individual needs, activity level and overall joint health.
On this page, you’ll find an overview of common knee conditions that may lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, instability or reduced function. Each condition below is explained to help you better understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and when further assessment may be appropriate.
Knee pain is a common symptom that can affect people of all ages and may develop gradually or occur suddenly. It can be felt at the front, inside, outside or back of the knee, depending on the underlying cause. In some cases, knee pain is related to changes within the joint itself, such as cartilage wear, arthritis or inflammation. It may also arise from surrounding structures, including the ligaments, tendons, muscles, meniscus or bursae.
Common causes of knee pain may include:
The pattern, location and severity of your pain can provide important clues about the underlying cause. If your symptoms are ongoing, worsening or impacting your daily activities, further assessment may help determine the cause and guide appropriate management. Treatment options will depend on the underlying condition and may range from physiotherapy, activity modification, bracing or injections through to surgical options in selected cases.
Knee arthritis, most commonly osteoarthritis, is a condition where the smooth cartilage lining the knee joint gradually wears down over time. This can lead to increased friction within the joint, resulting in pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced movement. Osteoarthritis of the knee typically develops slowly and is more common with increasing age, although it can also occur earlier due to previous injury, meniscal damage, ligament injury, altered knee alignment or increased joint loading over time.
As the condition progresses, symptoms may become more persistent and begin to impact daily activities, mobility and quality of life.
Treatment options for knee arthritis
Management depends on the severity of symptoms, the degree of joint damage and how much the condition affects your function. Early treatment may include activity modification, physiotherapy, weight management where appropriate, pain management strategies, bracing or injections. These options may help manage symptoms, although they do not reverse the underlying cartilage wear.
When symptoms become more advanced and non-surgical treatments are no longer providing enough relief, surgical treatment may be considered. The most commonly performed procedure for advanced knee arthritis is total knee replacement, which aims to relieve pain and improve function by replacing the damaged joint surfaces.
In selected cases, different surgical options may be discussed, including:
A thorough assessment can help confirm the diagnosis, identify which part of the knee is affected and guide the most appropriate treatment plan based on your individual needs.
Patellofemoral arthritis is a form of knee arthritis that affects the joint between the kneecap, known as the patella, and the groove at the front of the thigh bone, known as the trochlea. This part of the knee helps the kneecap glide smoothly as the knee bends and straightens.
When the smooth cartilage in the patellofemoral joint gradually wears down, it can lead to pain at the front of the knee, stiffness, swelling and grinding sensations. Symptoms are often more noticeable during activities that place extra load on the kneecap, such as stairs, squatting, kneeling, rising from a chair or walking on hills.
Patellofemoral arthritis may develop as part of general knee osteoarthritis, or it may occur due to previous kneecap instability, patella dislocation, trauma, altered knee alignment, trochlear dysplasia or increased joint loading over time.
Common symptoms may include:
As the condition progresses, symptoms may become more persistent and begin to affect walking, exercise, work, household tasks and daily activities.
Treatment options for patellofemoral arthritis:
Management depends on the severity of symptoms, the degree of cartilage wear and whether arthritis is limited to the patellofemoral joint or also affects other areas of the knee. Early treatment may include activity modification, physiotherapy, strengthening exercises, weight management where appropriate, pain management strategies, bracing or injections. Physiotherapy often focuses on improving quadriceps, hip and gluteal strength, as this may help support kneecap tracking and reduce load through the front of the knee.
When symptoms become more advanced and non-surgical treatments are no longer providing enough relief, surgical treatment may be considered. The most appropriate procedure depends on the pattern of arthritis, knee alignment, kneecap tracking and overall joint health.
In selected cases, surgical options may include:
A thorough assessment can help confirm the diagnosis, identify the extent of joint involvement and guide the most appropriate treatment plan based on your symptoms, imaging findings and individual needs.
Sports knee injuries can occur during running, jumping, landing, twisting, pivoting or sudden changes in direction. These injuries are common in activities such as football, netball, basketball, soccer, skiing, running and court sports, where the knee is placed under repeated load or exposed to sudden force.
A sports-related knee injury may affect the ligaments, meniscus, cartilage, tendons, muscles or kneecap joint. Some injuries occur suddenly after a fall, collision or twisting movement, while others develop gradually due to overuse, repetitive loading or poor movement control.
Common sports knee injuries may include:
Symptoms can vary depending on the type and severity of injury, but may include:
Some sports knee injuries settle with non-surgical management, while others may require further investigation and treatment, particularly if there is ongoing swelling, instability, locking, loss of movement or difficulty returning to sport.
Treatment options for sports knee injuries
Management depends on the type of injury, the structures involved, your symptoms, activity level and goals for returning to sport or daily function. Early treatment may include rest, ice, activity modification, bracing, physiotherapy and pain management strategies. Further assessment may include clinical examination and imaging, such as X-rays or MRI, to help identify the injured structures and guide appropriate treatment. In selected cases, surgical treatment may be considered, particularly for injuries involving significant ligament damage, meniscal tears, cartilage injuries or recurrent kneecap instability.
Depending on the injury, surgical options may include:
A thorough assessment can help identify the cause of your symptoms, determine the severity of the injury and guide a treatment plan based on your sport, lifestyle and recovery goals.
Post-traumatic hip arthritis can develop following an injury to the hip joint, such as a fracture, dislocation or significant soft tissue damage. Even when an injury is treated appropriately, it can alter the mechanics of the joint or affect the cartilage, leading to gradual wear over time. This type of arthritis may develop months or years after the initial injury and can progressively impact comfort, mobility and overall joint function.
Common causes may include:
As the condition progresses, symptoms may become more persistent and begin to affect daily activities and quality of life.
Treatment options for post-traumatic hip arthritis
Management depends on the extent of joint damage and how much your symptoms affect your function. Early treatment may include physiotherapy, activity modification and pain management strategies. When joint damage becomes more advanced and non-surgical treatments are no longer effective, surgical treatment may be considered. In many cases, total hip replacement (arthroplasty) may be recommended to help relieve pain and restore function by replacing the damaged joint surfaces.
A hip replacement is designed to relieve pain and improve mobility, and most function well for many years. In some cases, however, problems can develop over time that affect how the joint performs. This is often referred to as a “failed” hip replacement. Failure does not always mean the implant has completely stopped working. It may relate to ongoing pain, reduced function, or complications affecting the joint.
Assessment of a failed hip replacement
A detailed assessment is important to identify the cause of your symptoms. This may include clinical examination, X-rays and, in some cases, more advanced imaging or blood tests to assess for infection or implant-related issues.
Treatment options for a failed hip replacement
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of the problem. In some cases, non-surgical management may help with symptom control.
When the implant is no longer functioning as intended, revision hip replacement (arthroplasty) may be considered. This involves removing and replacing some or all of the existing components to restore stability, improve function and reduce pain.
Revision surgery is generally more complex than initial hip replacement, and the surgical approach will be tailored to your situation. In some cases, specialised implants or techniques may be required to address bone loss or instability. A thorough assessment helps determine the cause of the problem and guide appropriate treatment.
A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thigh bone (femur), usually occurring near the hip joint. It is most commonly the result of a fall, particularly in older adults, although it can also occur following trauma such as a motor vehicle accident. Hip fractures can significantly affect mobility and independence and are typically treated urgently to help restore movement and reduce the risk of complications associated with immobility.
Treatment options for a hip fracture
Hip fractures are usually treated with surgery, as this allows earlier mobilisation and may reduce the risk of complications such as blood clots, chest infections and muscle weakness. The type of surgery recommended will depend on the location and pattern of the fracture, as well as your overall health and bone quality. In some cases, the bone may be repaired using screws, plates or rods. In other cases, particularly where the joint surface is affected or there is pre-existing arthritis, hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty) may be considered. Following surgery, early mobilisation and rehabilitation are important to support recovery and help restore independence.
A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thigh bone (femur), usually occurring near the hip joint. It is most commonly the result of a fall, particularly in older adults, although it can also occur following trauma such as a motor vehicle accident. Hip fractures can significantly affect mobility and independence and are typically treated urgently to help restore movement and reduce the risk of complications associated with immobility.
Treatment options for a hip fracture
Hip fractures are usually treated with surgery, as this allows earlier mobilisation and may reduce the risk of complications such as blood clots, chest infections and muscle weakness. The type of surgery recommended will depend on the location and pattern of the fracture, as well as your overall health and bone quality. In some cases, the bone may be repaired using screws, plates or rods. In other cases, particularly where the joint surface is affected or there is pre-existing arthritis, hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty) may be considered. Following surgery, early mobilisation and rehabilitation are important to support recovery and help restore independence.
A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thigh bone (femur), usually occurring near the hip joint. It is most commonly the result of a fall, particularly in older adults, although it can also occur following trauma such as a motor vehicle accident. Hip fractures can significantly affect mobility and independence and are typically treated urgently to help restore movement and reduce the risk of complications associated with immobility.
Treatment options for a hip fracture
Hip fractures are usually treated with surgery, as this allows earlier mobilisation and may reduce the risk of complications such as blood clots, chest infections and muscle weakness. The type of surgery recommended will depend on the location and pattern of the fracture, as well as your overall health and bone quality. In some cases, the bone may be repaired using screws, plates or rods. In other cases, particularly where the joint surface is affected or there is pre-existing arthritis, hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty) may be considered. Following surgery, early mobilisation and rehabilitation are important to support recovery and help restore independence.
