What is an arthroscopy of the knee?
An arthroscopy (also called ‘keyhole’ surgery) allows your surgeon to see inside your knee using a camera inserted through small cuts in the skin. Your surgeon can diagnose problems such as a torn cartilage, ligament damage and arthritis. What are the benefits of surgery? The main benefit of surgery is to confirm exactly what the problem is and in many cases to treat the problem at the same time. Are there any alternatives to surgery? Problems inside the knee can often be diagnosed using a magnetic scan (MRI scan). However, you may then need an arthroscopy to treat the problem. What does the operation involve? A variety of anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation usually takes between half an hour and three-quarters of an hour. Your surgeon will examine the inside of your knee. They will wash out any loose material caused by wear of the joint surfaces. It is usually possible for your surgeon to trim or repair a torn cartilage without needing to make a larger cut. (see fig.1)
