What is knee arthroscopy?
Knee arthroscopy is keyhole surgery in which a pencil-thin camera (an arthroscope) is passed through a small incision, projecting a magnified view of the inside of the joint onto a screen. Fine instruments through other small incisions are then used to carry out the treatment.
It is both diagnostic and therapeutic — the surgeon can see the problem directly and address it in the same sitting, with smaller scars and less soft-tissue disruption than open surgery.
What it can treat
A wide range of knee problems can be managed arthroscopically, including:
- Meniscus tears — repair or a precise partial trim.
- Cartilage damage — debridement and restoration techniques.
- Removal of loose bodies that catch or lock the joint.
- ACL and other ligament reconstruction.
- Trimming inflamed tissue and treating certain kneecap problems.
How the procedure works
Through two or three small incisions, the joint is gently expanded with fluid and inspected with the arthroscope. The specific repair — trimming or repairing a meniscus, treating cartilage, or removing a loose body — is then performed with specialised instruments. Most procedures are completed as a day case.
Arthroscopy is the technique, not a single operation. A simple clean-up or trim recovers quickly, whereas a meniscus repair or ligament reconstruction follows a longer, protected programme.
Recovery & outlook
Because the incisions are small, early discomfort is usually well controlled and many patients walk the same day. The pace of recovery is set by what was done inside: a clean-up or trim allows a quick return to activity over a couple of weeks, while a repair is protected and rehabilitated over months.
Risks & outcomes
Knee arthroscopy is safe and well-established, with the advantages of small scars, less pain and a faster early recovery than open surgery. Risks — including infection, swelling, stiffness and, rarely, blood clots — are uncommon and minimised through careful technique and a structured rehabilitation plan.
Most patients walk on the day of surgery, often with crutches at first depending on what was done.
Typically just a few millimetres each — two or three small portals rather than a single long incision.
Often within one to two weeks for a simple procedure, once you have safe control of the leg and are off strong pain medication.