Knee Arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy is a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat problems associated with the knee joint. An arthroscope, which contains a tiny camera, is inserted into the knee through a small incision. Guided by camera footage on a screen, the surgeon can explore the knee joint and use a number of other small incisions to insert his instruments. Keyhole surgery has lots of benefits:

• Reduced risk of wound complications
• Fewer stitches
• Faster recovery time
• Shorter hospital stay
  
• Minimal post-operative pain

 

Knee arthroscopy is a useful way to confirm the source of knee pain and treat the problem.

If you’re experiencing knee pain your doctor may recommend that you undergo a knee arthroscopy to diagnose the condition and help find a diagnosis.

A knee arthroscopy can help with the following injuries:

• Torn cruciate ligaments
• Torn meniscus (the cartilage between the bones in the knee)
• Patella that is in the wrong position
• Pieces of torn cartilage that are loose in the joint
• Knee bone fracture
• Swollen synovium (joint lining)
• Removal of Baker’s cyst

 

What happens during a knee arthroscopy?

Knee arthroscopy usually takes less than one hour, depending on how much work Mr. Goel needs to do inside your knee joint.  You’ll be given an anaesthetic which might be:

• Local (numbs your knee only)
• Regional (numb from the waist down), or
• General, where you’re put to sleep

Several small cuts will be made in the skin around your knee. Sterile fluid will be used to rinse out the knee joint – to enable Mr. Goel to see the inside of your knee more clearly. Mr. Goel will then insert the arthroscope to examine your knee joint.

Once Mr. Goel has diagnosed the problem, he may decide to treat your knee there and then, using his tools to repair or remove any damaged tissue. He may take some photographs.

Once he’s finished his investigations, your knee will be drained of the fluid and the cuts closed with stitches or adhesive strips and a dressing.

In most cases you’ll be able to go home the same day as your surgery.