Understanding Your Condition
If you are living with hip or knee pain, you are not alone. Mr Hussain sees patients at every stage — from those exploring their options for the first time to those facing complex revision surgery. This page explains the four most common conditions he treats, in plain language.
Conditions
Mr Hussain treats a wide range of hip and knee conditions, from early-stage arthritis to complex revision cases and prosthetic joint infections.
Hip Arthritis
Osteoarthritis & InflammatoryHip arthritis is one of the most common causes of hip pain in adults. It occurs when the smooth cartilage lining the hip joint — a ball-and-socket joint where the top of the thigh bone meets the pelvis — gradually wears away. As the cartilage thins, the bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced movement. The most common form is osteoarthritis (often called "wear and tear" arthritis), but inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the hip joint.
Common Symptoms
- Deep aching pain in the groin, front of the thigh, or buttock
- Morning stiffness that eases after moving
- Pain that worsens with activity — walking, climbing stairs, getting up from a chair
- A grating, grinding, or clicking sensation in the hip
- Difficulty putting on shoes and socks
- A limp or altered walking pattern
- Disturbed sleep due to hip discomfort
Risk Factors
- Age — more common in those over 50
- Excess body weight placing extra load on the joint
- Previous hip injury or fracture
- Hip developmental problems (dysplasia, Perthes disease)
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
- Family history of arthritis
- Physically demanding occupations
- Rheumatoid or inflammatory arthritis
Treatment Options
- Weight management and activity modification
- Physiotherapy and targeted exercises
- Pain relief — paracetamol, anti-inflammatory medications
- Steroid or hyaluronic acid injections
- Walking aids for support
- Hip resurfacing (for suitable younger, active patients)
- Total hip replacement when conservative measures no longer help
When to See a Specialist
If hip pain is affecting your sleep, limiting your daily activities, or has not responded to physiotherapy and pain relief over several weeks, it is worth seeking a specialist opinion. Mr Hussain will review your X-rays, assess your mobility, and discuss all options — including whether surgery is appropriate, and which type of procedure best suits your age, activity level, and bone quality. Not everyone with hip arthritis will need surgery, and many patients benefit significantly from non-surgical care alone.
Knee Arthritis
Osteoarthritis & InflammatoryThe knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most frequently affected by arthritis. Knee osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage cushioning the ends of the thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap gradually breaks down, causing the bones to rub together. This leads to pain, swelling, and increasing difficulty with everyday activities. In more advanced cases, the joint can become visibly deformed and movement severely restricted. Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can also cause significant knee damage, often affecting younger patients.
Common Symptoms
- Persistent or recurrent knee pain — often worse with activity
- Swelling around the knee joint
- Stiffness after rest, especially first thing in the morning
- A grinding or crunching sensation when moving the knee
- Knee giving way or feeling unstable
- Difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or rising from a chair
- Pain that disturbs sleep
- Visible bowing of the leg (inward or outward)
Risk Factors
- Age — most common in those over 50
- Excess body weight (each extra kg adds several kg of force to the knee)
- Previous knee injury — ligament tears, fractures, meniscus damage
- Repetitive strain from occupation or sport
- Muscle weakness around the knee
- Joint misalignment (bow legs or knock knees)
- Rheumatoid or inflammatory arthritis
- Family history
Treatment Options
- Physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles supporting the knee
- Weight loss to reduce joint loading
- Pain relief — paracetamol, NSAIDs, topical gels
- Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections
- Knee bracing for support and stability
- Partial knee replacement (unicompartmental) for isolated disease
- Total knee replacement for widespread arthritis
- Robotic-assisted knee replacement for greater precision
When to See a Specialist
You should consider a specialist consultation if knee pain is affecting your quality of life — preventing you from walking reasonable distances, disturbing your sleep, or leaving you unable to do the things you enjoy. Surgery is considered only when all appropriate non-surgical options have been tried. Mr Hussain will carefully assess which part of the knee is affected, whether a partial or total replacement is most appropriate, and whether robotic-assisted surgery would benefit your case.
Failed Joint Replacement
Revision SurgeryAlthough the majority of hip and knee replacements provide excellent long-term results, a proportion of patients will experience problems with their implant at some point — either shortly after surgery or many years later. A "failed joint replacement" is one that is causing pain, instability, or loss of function that significantly affects daily life. This may require revision surgery — an operation to remove, replace, or adjust the original implant. Revision surgery is more complex than a primary joint replacement and requires a surgeon with specialist expertise.
Signs Your Replacement May Have Failed
- New or worsening pain around the hip or knee replacement
- Joint instability, giving way, or dislocation
- Clicking, clunking, or locking sensations
- Stiffness that limits normal activities
- Swelling or warmth around the joint (which may indicate infection)
- Leg length difference (hip)
- Difficulty walking that was not present previously
Common Causes
- Aseptic loosening — implant loosens from the bone over time
- Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) — bacterial infection of the implant
- Peri-prosthetic fracture — bone fracture around the implant
- Instability or dislocation (hip)
- Polyethylene wear — gradual wear of the plastic bearing surface
- Component malposition — implant placed in a suboptimal position
- Stiffness and poor range of motion (knee)
What Revision Surgery Involves
- Thorough investigation — blood tests, X-rays, CT scan, joint aspiration
- Aseptic revision — removal and replacement of loose components
- Two-stage revision for infection — temporary spacer, antibiotics, then new implant
- Peri-prosthetic fracture fixation or revision
- Use of augments, cones, sleeves, or custom implants for bone loss
- Mega-prosthesis for severe bone deficiency
- MDT involvement and HDU care where required
When to Seek a Specialist Opinion
If you have a joint replacement and are experiencing new pain, instability, or a noticeable change in how the joint feels, you should not delay seeking advice. Some causes of failure — particularly infection — are time-sensitive. Mr Hussain is a specialist in complex revision surgery for both hip and knee, and completed a British Hip Society Travelling Fellowship at the ENDO-Klinik Hamburg — one of the world's foremost centres for prosthetic joint infection management. He will undertake a thorough assessment and advise whether revision surgery is needed and the best approach for your specific situation.
Prosthetic Joint Infection
PJI & Complex ReconstructionProsthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most serious complications following a hip or knee replacement. It occurs when bacteria colonise the artificial implant, triggering an ongoing infection that the body cannot resolve on its own. PJI can occur soon after surgery (acute infection) or develop months or even years later (chronic infection), sometimes following a dental procedure, urinary tract infection, or other source of bacteria entering the bloodstream. PJI requires prompt and expert management — and Mr Hussain has a particular specialist interest in this condition.
Symptoms of PJI
- Persistent pain that does not settle after surgery
- Redness, warmth, and swelling around the joint
- A wound that fails to heal, or discharges fluid
- Fever and general unwellness
- Increasing pain in a previously comfortable replacement
- Elevated inflammatory markers in blood tests (CRP, ESR, white cell count)
- Loosening of the implant on X-ray
Diagnosis
- Blood tests — inflammatory markers, white cell count
- Joint aspiration — fluid drawn from the joint to identify bacteria
- X-rays and CT scanning to assess implant position and bone loss
- Nuclear medicine scanning (isotope bone scan) in selected cases
- Intra-operative tissue sampling at revision surgery
- Microbiological cultures to identify the causative organism
- Assessment of antibiotic sensitivities to guide treatment
Treatment Approach
- Acute infections (<4 weeks) — wash-out surgery with implant retention (DAIR) and targeted antibiotics
- Chronic infections — two-stage revision: implant removal, antibiotic spacer, then new implant once infection is cleared
- Long-term antibiotic therapy in collaboration with an infection specialist
- MDT approach involving microbiology, infectious disease, and plastic surgery
- Custom implants or mega-prosthesis where significant bone loss exists
- HDU monitoring for complex cases
Why Specialist Expertise Matters
Prosthetic joint infection is a complex condition requiring highly coordinated surgical and medical management. Misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment can lead to repeated surgical failures, prolonged disability, and in severe cases, the need for amputation or permanent joint removal. Mr Hussain completed a British Hip Society Travelling Fellowship at the Helios ENDO-Klinik Hamburg — one of Europe's leading centres for prosthetic joint infection, under Professor Thorsten Gehrke and Professor Mustafa Citak. This specialist training, combined with his experience in complex revision surgery, means patients with PJI receive the highest level of expert care at every stage of their treatment.
Excellence in Motion.
Results That Last.
Take the first step towards a pain-free, active life. Book a specialist consultation with Mr Hussain today.
Harborne Hospital (HCA Healthcare)
Priory Hospital Edgbaston
Sat: 9:00am – 1:00pm