Knee arthroscopy surgery: what to expect

Knee arthroscopy surgery is a procedure which involves a skilled surgeon investigating issues with an arthroscope before correcting them. It’s often referred to as “keyhole surgery” and is less invasive than other forms of knee surgery.

An arthroscope features a fibre optic video camera attached to a narrow tube. It is inserted into the body via a small incision which is typically the size of a buttonhole. The view from within your joint is then transmitted from the fibre optic camera to a high definition video screen, where the surgeon can then assess and correct any problems within the joint.

Is knee arthroscopy surgery popular?

Knee Arthroscopy is becoming increasingly popular because it has a much shorter recovery time than standard surgeries. The surgery itself usually takes no longer than an hour (depending on the complexity of the procedure) and the chances of experiencing any serious complications are incredibly slim.

How will I know if I need knee arthroscopy surgery?

The cause of your injury and the length of time that your injury has affected your quality of life/ability to move will help inform your consultant to ascertain whether you’re a potential candidate for knee arthroscopy surgery. While many joint issues can be treated with a combination of physical therapy, weight loss and other techniques, if you’ve tried various treatments with no success, your doctor might recommend that you consider surgery.

You might be a candidate for knee arthroscopy if you regularly experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Loss of motion where you can’t fully bend or extend your knee.
• Difficulty bearing weight on the knee joint.
• An inability to squat.
• Problems turning or twisting.
• Regularly hearing a “popping” noise or other noises from the knee joint.

What are the goals of knee arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is quite versatile and can be used to conduct a broad range of procedures, including the following:

• Confirmation of a suspected problem (diagnosis).
• Removing loose bodies and free radicals from the joint.
• Repairing damage to the cartilage.
• Fixing torn ligaments.
• Repairing/removing a torn meniscus.
• Repairing fractures to the surface of the joint.

If you are currently experiencing knee problems and would like to know more about how arthroscopic surgery could help, please do not hesitate to contact our Manchester-based team today, and we’ll be happy to discuss your issues and offer advice on whether you could be a candidate for knee arthroscopy surgery.