Knee arthroscopy means keyhole surgery of the knee joint. It is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures and is usually performed as a day case under a general anaesthetic.
The procedure, which typically takes around 45 minutes, involves making two small incisions into the front of the knee to insert an arthroscope (a tiny camera) and surgical tools. These enable surgeons to trim or repair meniscal tears (damage to the cartilage in the knee) or to carry out a synovectomy (removing part of the synovial membrane that has become inflamed and is causing pain).
After the operation you may need pain relief to help with any discomfort and you will need to keep the knee clean and dry for around two weeks. You will be given exercises by a physiotherapist and should be able to resume your normal activities by six to eight weeks.
The London Knee Unit offers advice and treatment for conditions that affect all parts of the knee. If you would like to find out more about the treatments we provide for orthopaedic conditions please visit our other musculoskeletal sites:
Musculoskeletal Foot and Ankle injuries Nerve injuries Shoulder injuries