A knee that is physically stuck and cannot fully straighten needs prompt assessment, especially after a twisting injury. Do not book PRP as a way to unlock it. A displaced meniscal tear is one possible cause, while pain and swelling can also restrict movement. The distinction changes the treatment pathway. A hot swollen knee with fever, a major injury or inability to bear weight needs urgent care.
Prepared by The Wellness Team. Evidence checked 2 November 2026.
Ask about a planned individual assessment. This messaging route is not an emergency service.
What is a true locked knee?
True locking means a persistent physical block to movement, not simply clicking, a brief catch or reluctance to move because it hurts. The description alone does not prove which structure is involved. Tell the clinician whether the knee ever straightens fully, how the event began and whether swelling followed. Do not force it straight or repeatedly twist it to test the blockage.
Why does the timing of injury matter?
A sudden twist under load can injure a meniscus, but an older scan showing a tear does not establish what is happening now. Acute traumatic tears differ from longstanding degenerative findings and may need a different discussion. The AAOS 2024 acute isolated meniscal guideline notes that displaced or displacing acute tears restricting movement may benefit from acute surgical intervention. That is a clinical pathway, not a guarantee that every tear needs surgery.
What assessment or imaging might be needed?
The examination considers movement, swelling, joint-line symptoms and the wider injury. MRI can be useful when acute meniscal pathology is suspected, with other imaging chosen for the clinical question. The AAOS acute guideline does not cover every chronic or complex knee presentation. A scan should support a decision rather than be purchased automatically, and an urgent mechanical concern should not wait for a routine injection slot.
Discuss the right appointment after urgent concerns have been addressed. Suitability, location, timing and the complete fee are confirmed individually.
Can PRP repair a displaced fragment?
PRP is not established as a way to move a displaced meniscal fragment back into position or release a mechanically locked joint. Evidence about injections for osteoarthritis cannot be treated as evidence for a locked knee after trauma. Even where PRP is discussed as an adjunct during meniscal surgery, that is a different intervention from a standalone clinic injection. Ask exactly which condition and treatment the cited study concerns.
When can rehabilitation be the right option?
Many knee symptoms can be managed without surgery once the diagnosis and urgent concerns are clear. The right plan may include activity modification and progressive rehabilitation. A persistent physical block, major instability or a deterioration in function needs reassessment rather than a generic exercise sheet. Do not assume a recommendation against an injection means there is no useful treatment available.
Which questions should I ask before committing?
Ask whether there is a true mechanical block, whether specialist review is time-sensitive and what the imaging would change. If an injection is proposed, ask for the diagnosis-specific evidence and realistic aim. Agree how improvement will be measured and what would trigger a different pathway. Protecting useful function and avoiding delay matter more than completing an injection course.
What makes a premium joint or tendon assessment worthwhile?
A careful assessment should establish which structure is causing symptoms and whether an injection has a defensible role. Ask how the diagnosis will be confirmed, what rehabilitation or other treatment belongs in the plan and what would trigger referral. Where imaging is useful, ask what question it will answer. A scan finding is not automatically the cause of pain, and a treatment sold for one diagnosis should not be transferred to another without evidence.
For published London market context, Chelsea Pharmacy Medical Clinic lists a single-joint combination of hyaluronic acid, PRP and steroid at £925. This is a different combined intervention, not a like-for-like standalone PRP quote or The London PRP Clinic tariff. A higher price does not establish a better outcome. The complete fee should reflect the assessment, professional expertise, any agreed imaging or procedure, and the review arrangements. Request an itemised quote before deciding and ask which elements are separate. A technically impressive injection is not good value if it delays the right diagnosis or a time-sensitive treatment. No PRP response is guaranteed. The London PRP Clinic is part of The Wellness; the team confirms the appropriate appointment and the service it can arrange for the individual concern.
What should I bring to the appointment?
Bring the injury timeline, previous scan reports, medicines and a description of the activities you need to recover. Explain whether symptoms began with a particular event, whether movement is blocked and whether strength has changed. Tell the clinician about fever, wounds, anticoagulants, previous surgery and other medical conditions. Do not stop prescribed medicines to prepare for an enquiry. An informed decision can be to use rehabilitation, seek a specialist opinion or have no injection at all.
Request a suitable assessment and a clear individual plan. If symptoms are urgent, use the urgent route described above rather than waiting for a reply.
Sources and limits
- AAOS acute isolated meniscal pathology guideline 2024
- Mayo Clinic torn meniscus
- Published London joint-procedure fees and scope
This is general information, not a diagnosis or individual treatment advice. Evidence and guidance apply to the populations described; they do not promise a result for an individual. No appointment, investigation or procedure is confirmed by submitting an enquiry.