Private Knee Ultrasound Scan

A private knee ultrasound scan is a safe, painless, radiation-free diagnostic test using high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time images of the knee’s soft tissue structures. It visualises the quadriceps tendon, patellar tendon, medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL), Hoffa’s fat pad, prepatellar and infrapatellar bursae, pes anserinus bursa, Baker’s cyst, joint effusion, iliotibial band, and peripheral meniscal margins.

It is the recommended first-line imaging investigation for most knee pain conditions including tendinopathy, tendon tears, ligament sprains, bursitis, Baker’s cyst, and IT band syndrome. A unique advantage over MRI is the ability to perform dynamic real-time assessment during movement, allowing identification of positional pathology and direct pain-point correlation.

At London Private Ultrasound, a private knee ultrasound costs:

• One knee: £199 — all fees inclusive, no hidden charges
• Both knees: £299 — saving £99 compared to two separate single-knee scans

Both options include same-day verbal results and a full written report within 24 hours. We accept all major credit and debit cards, cash, and Klarna for flexible payment.

Knee pain has many structural causes, the most common of which are directly visible on ultrasound:

• Patellar tendinopathy (“jumper’s knee”) — most common in running and jumping sports
• Quadriceps tendinopathy or tear — degeneration or disruption of the tendon above the kneecap
• Prepatellar bursitis (“housemaid’s knee”) — fluid-filled swelling over the kneecap
• Pes anserinus bursitis — pain on the inner side of the knee, often in runners and overweight patients
• Baker’s cyst — fluid-filled cyst in the back of the knee, often related to intra-articular pathology
• MCL or LCL sprain — medial or lateral ligament injury following a twisting or impact mechanism
• IT band syndrome — lateral knee pain in runners due to iliotibial band friction
• Hoffa’s fat pad impingement — anterior knee pain from pinching of the fat pad below the kneecap
• Knee joint effusion — fluid within the knee joint indicating inflammation or injury
• Knee osteoarthritis — soft tissue changes and joint effusion associated with joint degeneration

Yes. Knee ultrasound is the gold-standard investigation for Baker’s cyst (popliteal cyst). It can:

• Confirm the diagnosis with high sensitivity and specificity
• Measure the cyst size and extent
• Identify the neck of the cyst between the semimembranosus and medial gastrocnemius tendons
• Detect internal complexity (septations, loose bodies) or evidence of rupture
• Differentiate a Baker’s cyst from other popliteal masses (e.g. popliteal artery aneurysm, ganglion, lymph node)

Baker’s cysts are almost always a secondary finding — they form when intra-articular knee pathology (such as knee OA, meniscal tear, or inflammatory arthritis) leads to increased joint fluid production. Our specialist will advise on the most likely underlying cause and whether further investigation is warranted.

Knee ultrasound can detect some meniscal tears, particularly at the peripheral meniscocapsular junction (where the meniscus meets the joint capsule), and can identify parameniscal cysts — fluid collections adjacent to a meniscal tear. However, the central portions of the meniscus and the posterior horn are not accessible to ultrasound because of the overlying bony structures.

For a complete meniscal assessment — including central tears, posterior horn tears, and bucket-handle tears — MRI is the gold standard. If your knee ultrasound is inconclusive for meniscal pathology or a central tear is clinically suspected, your specialist will advise on MRI referral.

Kocabey Y et al. The value of clinical examination versus MRI and ultrasound in the diagnosis of meniscal tears. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2004;12(4):337–40.

One knee (£199) is appropriate if you have pain, swelling, or stiffness in one knee only, or if you have already had one knee scanned previously and need the other assessed.

Both knees (£299) is recommended if you have:

• Pain or symptoms in both knees
• Bilateral patellar tendinopathy (common in runners)
• Bilateral knee OA assessment
• Pre-surgical comparison — e.g. before bilateral knee replacement
• Sports screening for bilateral lower limb assessment
• Inflammatory arthritis affecting both knees

If you are unsure, call us on 020 7101 3377 and our team will advise based on your symptoms.

Knee ultrasound and MRI answer different clinical questions and are best considered complementary investigations:

• Ultrasound excels at: Patellar tendinopathy, quadriceps tendon tears, bursitis, Baker’s cyst, MCL and LCL assessment, IT band syndrome, Hoffa’s fat pad, joint effusion, dynamic movement assessment, guiding injections, and immediate results — all at significantly lower cost
• MRI excels at: ACL/PCL tears, central and posterior horn meniscal tears, bone marrow oedema, articular cartilage assessment, and bone pathology

For most patients presenting with anterior knee pain, medial or lateral knee pain, posterior knee swelling, or tendon symptoms, ultrasound is the most clinically efficient and cost-effective first-line investigation. MRI is typically reserved for suspected ligamentous instability, central meniscal tears, or when clinical examination and ultrasound are inconclusive.

No. You can self-refer and book directly online or by calling 020 7101 3377. Appointments are available 7 days a week at our Central London clinic (27 Welbeck Street, Harley Street medical district) and our St Albans clinic (54–56 Victoria Street). If you have previous scan reports, MRI results, or physiotherapy notes, bring them along — they are not required but can help your specialist contextualise the findings.

No special preparation is required for a knee ultrasound. You should:

• Wear or bring shorts, or loose clothing that can be rolled above the knee — this is the easiest way to ensure full access to the knee and popliteal fossa
• Remove any knee support or compression bandaging before your appointment

No fasting, no medication changes, and no topical preparations are required. You may eat, drink, and take medications normally.

A knee ultrasound is not painful. A water-based gel is applied to the knee, and a handheld probe moves gently over the skin surface. The scan uses harmless sound waves, not radiation, and has no known side effects.

During the dynamic part of the assessment, you will be asked to bend and straighten the knee and occasionally hold specific positions. If your knee is painful, tell your specialist — they will adapt the approach to maximise diagnostic information while minimising discomfort.

Your MSK specialist explains findings verbally immediately after your scan. You leave with a clear understanding of the structural causes of your knee pain and a discussion of treatment options — whether physiotherapy, activity modification, injection therapy, or further imaging. A comprehensive written diagnostic report is securely emailed the same day or within 24 hours, suitable for sharing with any NHS or private clinician involved in your care.

Yes. Ultrasound-guided knee injections are significantly more accurate and effective than unguided (“blind”) injections performed by clinical landmark alone. Studies show that unguided intra-articular knee injections have accuracy rates of only 71–79%, whereas ultrasound-guided injections achieve over 95% accuracy.

At London Private Ultrasound, our Joint Injection Clinic offers ultrasound-guided:

• Corticosteroid (steroid) injections — for bursitis, effusion, and inflammatory arthritis
• Hyaluronic acid joint lubrication — for knee osteoarthritis
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy — for tendinopathy and cartilage support
• Baker’s cyst aspiration — with ultrasound guidance for accurate needle placement

If your scan identifies a condition that may benefit from an injection, your specialist will discuss this with you at the time of your appointment.

Sibbitt WL et al. The economic case for ultrasound guidance in joint injection. JRHEUM 2012;39(1):165–73.

Choosing private care at London Private Ultrasound does not affect your NHS rights or entitlements in any way. NHS MSK pathways often involve GP referral, physiotherapy assessment, and then imaging — a process that can take many weeks. Our service provides direct access to expert MSK imaging the same day or next day, so you can understand the structural cause of your knee pain immediately and begin the most appropriate treatment pathway.

If your scan identifies a finding requiring NHS orthopaedic attention — for example, a significant quadriceps tendon tear or a finding consistent with early-stage osteoarthritis requiring specialist review — your specialist will provide a formal written report to support an NHS referral. We work alongside the NHS, not instead of it.