No specific Preparation
Knee Scan
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No GP Referral Needed
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Scan results summary before you leave
From
£160
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See how our price compares with Harley Street →What's included in the Knee Scan
Formal written ultrasound report within 24-48 hours
Expert Care by HCPC & GMC Clinicians
Option to add a musculoskeletal assessment by an advanced physiotherapist or specialist doctor
Option to add an ultrasound-guided injection of steroid or advanced pain relief medication
About the Knee Scan
Knee problems and knee pain are common as the knee is a frequent point of contact during traumatic accidents, and is prone to wear and tear due to its weight-bearing nature. It is also a common site for arthritic pain. A knee ultrasound scan is a diagnostic imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the structures inside the knee. It can be used to evaluate the knee muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue structures. Knee injuries are common in adults, particularly among athletes such as runners. These injuries can be short-term (acute) or long-term (Chronic). Acute injuries could be caused by sudden traumatic events such as falls or accidents. Chronic injuries are usually due to repetitive microtrauma to the area, however, in some instances may also be a consequence of an acute injury.
The knee is one of the most critical joints in the body, with many structures. It is subjected to intense pressure when walking and is prone to injuries among sports personalities because of extensive use and excessive weight. One of the tools doctors use to identify structural damage to the knee is the ultrasound scan. This is mainly the case when the damage or injury affects the soft tissue of the knee.
Objective of the scan
The knee scan aims to provide a detailed assessment of the significant musculoskeletal structures in the knee using ultrasound. The knee joint is made of a number of tissues including muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and cartilage. The knee joint is the largest weight-bearing joint in the body performing a wide range of movements including twisting, turning, and rotating. All this movement and weight bearing can cause a tremendous toll on the knee causing a great deal of wear and tear on the joint as you go through your normal daily activities. Increasing your activities, such as sports and exercise, can add to these forces. Due to the high demands placed on the knee, it is, therefore, more prone to developing injury and disease. The knee scan uses ultrasound waves to see inside the knee and look at these structures. It is a quick and painless test that is completely safe. The results of the knee scan are discussed with you following the scan.
The knee ultrasound scan can assess:
- Quadriceps tendon
- Patellar tendon
- Bursa
- Biceps femoris
- Medial collateral ligament
- Lateral collateral ligament
- Knee cushion (limited)
Why choose us for your Knee Scan
What brought you here?
Pick the closest match. We'll show what the scan looks for and what usually happens next.
What the scan looks for
A Baker's cyst, its size and the neck connecting it to the joint, and whether it has burst into the calf.
What happens next
We measure the cyst and describe it in a written report within 24 hours, so your GP or orthopaedic specialist can decide what to do next.
What the scan looks for
Fluid in the knee joint and the pouch above the kneecap, thickening of the joint lining, and Doppler signal suggesting active inflammation.
What happens next
You get a verbal summary before you leave and a written report to you within 24 hours, which you can share with your GP, physiotherapist or sports medicine doctor.
What the scan looks for
The patellar tendon for thickening and tearing, the bursae in front of and below the kneecap, and Doppler for active change.
What happens next
We explain the findings at the time, and your written report follows within 24 hours, ready to share with your physiotherapist.
What the scan looks for
The medial collateral ligament, the pes anserine tendons and their bursa, plus any fluid tracking along them.
What happens next
Findings are discussed straight after the scan and reported in writing within 24 hours for physiotherapy or specialist review.
What the scan looks for
The iliotibial band where it crosses the outer knee, the tissue and fluid beneath it, watched as you bend and straighten the knee.
What happens next
We give you a verbal summary and a written report within 24 hours, which can be sent to your physiotherapist or sports medicine doctor.
Please note: Knee ultrasound can't see the menisci, the cruciate ligaments or the cartilage inside the joint, because they sit too deep. Those need an MRI.
Why do I need a Knee Scan?
You may need to have a knee ultrasound scan for one or more of the following reasons;
- knee injury: Foot ultrasound is commonly used to evaluate injuries such as sprains and tendonitis.
- knee pain
- Reduced knee movement
- Reduced knee stability
- Knee discomfort
- Knee Inflammation
- Knee lump
- Knee swelling to fluid
- Post-surgical complications e.g. abscess, oedema
- Check for foreign bodies such as glass or metal particles that may have lodged in the soft tissues
The primary function of a knee ultrasound is to assess certain knee conditions such as;
- Knee joint effusion is a build-up of fluid within the knee joint. It can happen for various reasons, including knee injury, knee arthritis, and meniscal injury, among others. The scan can assess the size of the effusion and determine if there is any active inflammation.
- Patellar tendinosis(Jumper’s knee): A knee ultrasound can accurately diagnose patellar tendinosis.
- The scan can also be used to assess the ligaments that run inside and outside the knee, called collateral ligaments.
- The scan can also assess baker’s cyst. The scan can confirm the diagnosis and size of the cyst and determine the suitability of ultrasound-guided aspiration.
- Assessing soft tissue lumps around the knee joint. A knee ultrasound is the first imaging choice when assessing for swelling around the knee
- Assessing a special group of tendons that run at the inner aspect of the upper leg just below the knee for Pes Anserine tendinosis and bursitis
- Assess for any liquid build-up in front of the knee cup (pre-patellar bursitis)
Besides its diagnostic value, a knee ultrasound is also vastly used in treatment. Knee ultrasound-guided treatment can help treat various conditions, such as:
- Knee joint osteoarthritis
- Patellofemoral joint
- Meniscal tears
- Baker’s cyst
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Prepatellar bursitis
- Hoffa’s fat pad impingement
- Iliotibial (IT) band friction syndrome
- Pes anserine tendinopathy and bursitis
Different treatment options and ultrasound-guided knee injections can be done under ultrasound guidance to help manage knee pain and discomfort, such as knee steroid injections, knee hyaluronic acid injections, and knee platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
What we check
The areas examined in one appointment. Open any section for detail.
What can the Knee Scan detect?
Our knee ultrasound scan is used to assess for common problems in the knee which can include:
- injuries to the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage
- inflammation and swelling of the knee joint
- osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Baker’s cyst, which is a fluid-filled sac that can develop behind the knee
- bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee
- tendonitis, which is inflammation of the tendons
- gout and other types of crystal arthritis
- Sprains & Tears
- Inflammation or bursitis
- Traumatic injury
- Fluid in the knee joint
- Jumpers knee
- Housemaid’s knee
- Prepatellar bursitis
- Infrapatellar bursitis
- Potential meniscus injury
- Restricted Movement
- Arthritis
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Over Use Injury
Benefits of the Knee Scan
The test is painless, safe, and can be done quickly. Your doctor may require a knee ultrasound scan along with other imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI to plan the best treatment. Ultrasonography is a noninvasive imaging modality and is widely used for the assessment of the knee and knee joints. It can provide clinically useful information on a wide range of conditions affecting the knee joint, including the tendons, ligaments, muscles, synovial space, articular cartilage, and surrounding soft tissues.
Taking a private knee ultrasound has numerous benefits for you and your healthcare provider, such as:
- Knee ultrasounds provide real-time images that allow healthcare providers to get a live look at the structures surrounding the knee and acquire the information required to make the correct diagnosis.
- Besides highlighting the cause of knee pain or discomfort, the ultrasound can provide additional details like the contents and size of the swelling, lump or cyst to help ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.
- Private knee ultrasound-guided injections help to deliver treatment to the suitable structures in the knee for prolonged relief and better treatment response.
How to prepare
Arriving with the right preparation is important as failure to do so may result in us not being able to perform the scan.
No preparation needed
- No specific preparation is required for this scan.
Having a guided injection?
- We do not recommend that you drive after having a steroid injection, so please travel by public transport or have someone accompany or collect you after the procedure.
- Read the guided injection patient information before your appointment.
On the day
During the scan you will be asked to uncover the area being scanned, so we advise wearing loose clothing. A small amount of ultrasound gel is placed on your skin and a handheld probe is moved over the area. You may be asked to move the joint so the clinician can see how the tendons and muscles work.
The scan is pain-free. At the end you get a verbal summary of the results and the chance to ask any questions. If you booked an assessment or a guided injection, it follows in the same appointment.
Right after
Your clinician talks you through a verbal summary and answers your questions.
Within 24-48 hours
A formal written report arrives by email, ready to share with your GP.
If anything needs follow-up
We explain what was seen, the options and who to speak to next.
What patients say
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Common Questions
What is a Knee Ultrasound?
A knee ultrasound is a diagnostic exam to visualise superficial soft tissue structures surrounding the knee. Its dynamic use makes a knee ultrasound unique compared to other imaging modalities. Observing joint surfaces moving and correlating sonographic findings with patient symptoms can be very helpful. Although ultrasound is not the imaging modality of choice when looking deep inside the bone, integrating it as part of the clinical examination alongside other imaging modalities is important.
Common structures visualised around the knee during a knee ultrasound scan include the following;
- Patella and quadriceps tendons
- Several knee bursae
- Muscle and tendinous structures posterior and anterior to the joint
- Joint lines and capsular recesses
How much is a private knee ultrasound in London?
Our knee scan prices in London vary widely, considering the vast range of applications for the scan. The price of the scan can be as low as £160 up to £300 for ultrasound-guided injections. We also provide musculoskeletal assessments with our specialists and the knee for scans and results. You can contact our office for our full range of services and an estimate of the knee scan.
How long does a knee scan take?
Knee scans are quick and easy to take. You should be able to get your knee scan done within a few minutes. Most people are in and out of our clinic in about 40 minutes. You don’t need to take a day off work to get your scan taken.
How soon will I get the results of the scan?
You will get a verbal result of the scan after it is done. We send you the full findings of the scans electronically in about 24 hours.
Where can I get a private knee ultrasound near me?
Our East London scan clinic offers private knee ultrasound scans 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday. We’re a 5-minute walk from Gants Hill station on the Central line, with free parking at the front, and patients come to us from across East London and Essex.
Book your Knee Scan
Choose the service and side and we'll show your price. Same-day and weekend appointments at The Scan Clinic London East in Gants Hill.
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Scan only£160
Scan & assessmentfrom £199
Scan & guided injectionfrom £280
Both sides cost more and show here when you choose them. Verbal summary and written report included.
How to find our scan clinic in East London
Our private ultrasound clinic in East London is a 5-minute walk from Gants Hill station on the Central line.
Address
The Scan Clinic London East
635A Cranbrook Road
Gants Hill IG2 6SX
Free parking spaces directly in front of the clinic, plus a paid public car park opposite.
Important notes
- We will require details of your GP / Health Care Professional, which may be requested before or at the time of the scan.
- This scan requires access to the area of interest; therefore, it is recommended to wear loose clothing to facilitate this process.
- Study images are not typically included with the scan but may be requested, further information can be found by clicking here.
- Our London East clinic is located on the first floor, up one flight of stairs. Please note that we don’t have a lift available at this location.
- All of our first-line tests are optional and provided on a self-referral basis. If you have a referral letter, please bring it, as it gives us useful medical background. You must be aged 18 years or over to use this service. If you have an existing medical condition, are undergoing treatment, or have any concerns about whether this test is appropriate for you, we recommend that you consult your GP or healthcare professional before booking.
- We kindly ask that you inform us of any specific requirements, reasonable adjustments, cultural considerations, or practitioner preferences before your appointment. Whilst we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate requests, this may not always be possible at short notice or subject to staff availability.
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More about the Knee Scan
Learn more about joint, muscle and tendon problems and how ultrasound helps in our Health Hub.
Go to Health Hub
Medically reviewed by
Mr. Mohammad Usman
Clinical Lead and Consultant Sonographer