WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

AS WITH all types of knee replacement surgery, there’s a very small risk of infection.

THE short-term rehabilitation may be harder, as both knees have been operated on, though patients often have another painful arthritic joint anyway.

‘THE demand on the patient is higher, since two pieces of surgery are going on at the same time, so it’s important to be fit and well for the procedure,’ says Daniel Cohen, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Oldham Hospital. ‘I can see many advantages. With all types of knee replacement surgery, patients often notice a difference between the two sides — even when the same surgeon has operated on both. One of the most important factors is a difference in soft tissue balancing. Here, two surgeons are agreeing on a similar level of soft tissue tension for both knees at the same time.’