Knee Arthroscopy


If you have persistent pain, catching, or swelling in your knee, a procedure known as arthroscopy may help relieve these problems.

Arthroscopy allows an orthopaedic surgeon to diagnose and treat knee disorders by providing a clear view of the inside of the knee with small incisions, using a pencil-sized instrument called an arthroscope. The scope allows transmission of an image of your knee through a small camera to a television monitor. The image allows the surgeon to thoroughly examine the interior of the knee and determine the source of the problem. During the procedure, the surgeon also can insert surgical instruments through other small incisions in your knee to remove or repair damaged tissues.

With improvements of arthroscopes and higher resolution cameras, the procedure has become highly effective for both the accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of knee problems.

Arthroscopic Surgery of the Knee

Almost all arthroscopic knee surgery is done on an outpatient basis for healthy patients.

If you have local or regional anesthesia, you may be able to watch the procedure on a monitor, if you wish.
The orthopaedic surgeon will make a few small incisions in your knee. A sterile solution will be used to fill the knee joint and rinse away any cloudy fluid, providing a clear view of your knee.

The surgeon will then insert the arthroscope to properly diagnose your problem, using the image projected on a monitor to guide the arthroscope. If surgical treatment is needed, the surgeon can use a variety of small surgical instruments (e.g., scissors, clamps, motorized shavers, or lasers) through another small incision.

This part of the procedure usually lasts 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.

Common treatments with knee arthroscopy include:

• Removal or repair of torn meniscal cartilage.
• Reconstruction of a torn cruciate ligament.
• Trimming of torn pieces of articular cartilage.
• Removal of loose fragments of bone or cartilage.
• Removal of inflamed synovial tissue.
• At the conclusion of your surgery, the surgeon may close your incisions with a suture or paper tape and cover them with a bandage.

You will be moved to the recovery room. Usually, you will be ready to go home in one or two hours. You should have someone with you to drive you home.