Overview

What is knee arthroscopy?

Knee arthroscopy is the most commonly applied minimally invasive surgical procedure. Minimally invasive techniques do not need any bigger incision as other surgery procedures require.

Your doctor will make another incision that allows tiny instruments to enter the body to address injuries or structural problems, repairing or removing damaged tissues.

Why do I need knee arthroscopy?

If your knees ache, your doctor may refer you for a knee arthroscopy. She may have already diagnosed the cause of your knee pain, or she might order an arthroscopy to help with the diagnosis. In either case, arthroscopy is a great way for doctors to identify causes of knee pain and treat them as well.

Arthroscopic surgery can diagnose and also treat injuries to the knee. These include:

Torn ACL or PCL
Torn meniscus, the cartilage in the knee
Dislocated patella
Loose fragments of torn cartilage floating in the joint
Excision of Baker's cyst
Fractures of the knee bones
Swollen synovium, the lining of the joint

How do I prepare for knee arthroscopy?

Your doctor or surgeon will instruct you on preparing for your surgery. Be sure to tell him everything about prescribed drugs, over-the-counter medication, and supplements that you regularly use. You may need to stop using certain medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, at least a week or days before the surgery.

You should refrain from eating and drinking for at least six to 12 hours before the surgery. If you experience discomfort upon recovery, your doctor may prescribe pain medication. Fill out the prescription ahead of time so that you will have it available after the procedure.

What happens during a knee arthroscopy?

Your knee arthroscopy will be preceded by the anesthetic given by your doctor. This can be:

Local, which numbs the area around your knee only
Regional, which numbs you from the waist down
General, which puts you to sleep completely

If you awake, you may be able to watch what's being done on a monitor.

The surgeon begins with a few small cuts, or incisions, in your knee. Some sterile salt water, or saline, then pumps in, creating some expansion in your knee. This is important because it allows the surgeon to view the inside of the joint easily. The arthroscope passes through one of the incisions, and the surgeon then gets to explore the whole of the joint using a camera attached to the arthroscope. From there, the images captured by the camera will be reflected on the monitor in the operation room, allowing the surgeon to view them.

When the surgeon discovers the problem in your knee, they might insert small tools into the incisions to correct it. After surgery, the surgeon drains the saline from your joint and closes your cuts with stitches.

What are the risks involved with a knee arthroscopy?

Knee arthroscopy carries risks of any type of surgery, though seldom. Any surgical procedure has these possible risks:

Excessive bleeding during the procedure
Surgical site infection
Respiratory distress from anesthesia
Allergic reaction to medication taken during surgery

Additionally, there are some risks that might come with arthroscopy of the knee, such as:

Intra-articular hemorrhage within the knee joint
The development of a blood clot within one leg
Joint space infection
Knee stiffness
Damage or tear in knee cartilage, ligaments, meniscus, blood vessels, or nerves

What is the recovery after knee arthroscopy?

This surgery is not highly invasive. In fact, depending on the specific procedure, it takes less than an hour for most people. You will probably go home on the same day for recovery. You should apply an ice pack to your knee and wear a dressing. The ice will reduce swelling and your pain.

You will be required to have someone look after you at home, at least for the first day. Try to elevate your leg and apply ice to it for a few days in order to eliminate swelling and pain. You will also need to change the dressing. Your doctor/surgeon will advise you about when you would have to do those things and for how many days. You will have to visit your surgeon a few days after the surgery.

Your doctor may give you an exercise program to do at home to help your knee recover or send you to a physical therapist to visit until you feel confident in your ability to use your knee normally again. The exercises are very important to restore your full range of motion and to strengthen the muscles. With proper care, your outlook after having this procedure is excellent.