Where Can You Get an Alignment Check Before Knee Replacement in London?
ScanAlign, standing EOS imaging in Harley Street, offers full-leg weight-bearing scans at 19 Harley Street, London. The EOS system takes both legs, from hip to ankle, in one standing image. This gives your surgeon calibrated measurements to plan your knee replacement. You do not need a referral from your doctor. Self-pay patients can be seen the same week.
Key takeaways
- A full-leg standing x-ray shows the true alignment of your knee under your body weight.
- Both legs are taken in one scan, so your surgeon can compare the two sides.
- The EOS system uses about 90% less radiation than a standard x-ray, around ten times less.
- Images are calibrated for accurate surgical templating and are DICOM-ready to send to your surgeon.
- You can refer yourself. You do not need a letter from a consultant or a referral from your doctor.
Why does knee replacement imaging need to be done standing up?
Standing imaging shows how your knee really carries weight. When you lie down for a standard x-ray, CT or MRI, your muscles relax. The spacing in your joint can change. A tilted pelvis, a bowed shin or a small difference in leg length may flatten out on the table. The image can then look better than the reality. This means your surgeon could be planning with incomplete information.
Your body works as one connected chain, from your feet to your hips. A problem at the ankle or hip can shift load through the knee and make it wear unevenly. A standing full-leg image shows that whole chain in one shot. So the true cause of the misalignment is visible, not just the painful joint.
Shows weight-bearing alignment. Your surgeon sees the real angle between your thighbone and shinbone under load. Both legs appear side by side, so any difference between them is clear straight away. Measurements are calibrated to true size and ready for implant templating.
Muscles relax, alignment shifts. Lying-down x-rays or CT scans can understate how much the knee tilts inward or outward. They also show only one joint at a time. So the surgeon cannot see how the hip, knee and ankle relate to each other in the same image.
What is included in a pre-operative knee scan at ScanAlign?
Every appointment includes a standing full-leg EOS image, a detailed report from a specialist radiographer, and DICOM-format files ready for your surgeon. Here is what that covers.
When is MRI the better choice? EOS shows bones, joints and alignment in precise detail. For soft-tissue problems such as cartilage tears, ligament damage or nerve problems, MRI is usually the better tool. If your surgeon needs both, the two scans work well together.
How do you book knee replacement imaging in London?
The process is simple. You do not need a referral from your doctor or a letter from a consultant.
A short call with our specialist radiographer. We confirm that standing imaging is right for your situation and answer your questions.
You visit our clinic in central London. The scan itself takes only a few minutes. You stand still in the EOS unit while it takes both legs from hip to ankle.
Your images and the specialist report are ready on the same day. Measurements are calibrated and ready for your surgeon.
We send the full set of DICOM files securely to your surgeon or hospital, so they can template the implant accurately.
Ready to have your alignment checked before surgery?
Book a free video consultationWho benefits from a standing knee alignment assessment?
Standing alignment imaging is most useful for people who are preparing for knee surgery or thinking again about it. It also helps if you want a second opinion on whether surgery is truly needed.
- You are listed for knee replacement and your surgeon needs full-leg alignment data
- You want a second opinion on alignment before you commit to surgery
- Your knee pain has not responded to treatment and you want to understand the bigger picture
- You have been told one leg is shorter, or that your knee bows inward or outward
- You suspect a ligament tear, meniscus injury or cartilage problem (MRI is usually better)
- You have sudden severe knee swelling, redness or fever (see your doctor or go to an emergency department urgently)
- You cannot stand without help for about 30 seconds during the scan
Before you start treatment, or change the one you are on, it is worth getting a detailed diagnosis. Knowing whether the cause sits in the pelvis, the legs or the spine changes what will actually help.
If you are a clinician, you can register to refer patients for standing EOS imaging directly.
Frequently asked questions about knee replacement imaging in London
No. ScanAlign accepts self-referrals. You can book directly without a letter from your doctor or a consultant referral.
For patients travelling from abroad, the price is confirmed during the free video consultation. You can see appointment details on our book pre-operative imaging page.
A standard x-ray usually shows the knee joint alone, often lying down. A standing full-leg EOS scan images both legs from hip to ankle under your own body weight. It shows the true mechanical axis your surgeon needs for accurate planning.
Yes. The EOS system uses about 90% less radiation than a standard x-ray, around ten times less. It is one of the lowest-dose imaging options available.
The scan itself takes only a few minutes. You stand still in the unit while it takes the image. The whole appointment, including positioning and checks, is short and simple.
Yes, certainly. All images are provided in DICOM format, the medical standard. We can send them securely and directly to your surgeon or hospital on the same day.
Yes. Many patients come to ScanAlign specifically to get an independent, full-leg standing image before deciding on surgery. The calibrated data can support or challenge the original recommendation, helping you make a more informed decision.
ScanAlign is at 19 Harley Street, London, inside The Harley Street Hospital. It is a short walk from Oxford Circus, Regent's Park and Bond Street stations in central London.
EOS is designed for bones, joints and alignment. If you need imaging of ligaments, cartilage, discs or nerves, MRI is usually the better tool. Your free video consultation will help make clear which scan suits your needs.
Yes. EOS images are calibrated to true size. This means your surgeon can measure and template directly from the scan, rather than relying on estimates from magnified standard x-rays.
Get the full picture before surgery
A standing full-leg scan shows your surgeon exactly what they need for precise planning. Start with a free video call, with no obligation.
Book a free video consultationWritten by Abbas Dhami (Specialist Diagnostic Radiographer)
Sources
- Paley, D. (2002). Principles of Deformity Correction. Springer. (Established reference on lower-limb mechanical axis and alignment principles.)
- Deschênes, S. et al. (2010). Diagnostic imaging of spinal deformities: reducing patients' radiation dose with a new slot-scanning X-ray imager. Spine, 35(9), 989-994. (Peer-reviewed evidence on EOS low-dose technology.)
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Osteoarthritis: care and management. Clinical guideline [CG177]. (UK guidance on assessment before joint replacement.)
This page is general information and not a diagnosis.
ScanAlign is the trading name of CoreMed Solutions Ltd and operates under The Harley Street Hospital's CQC licence.