Knee arthroscopy

At Wells Health, we use some of the latest knee arthroscopy techniques for a wide range of knee problems including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and other ligament injuries, cartilage damage, meniscal (meniscus) tear, osteoarthritis and investigating knee pain.

This is a keyhole procedure using an arthroscope - a thin, flexible, telescopic instrument for looking at joints.


Sometimes also called

  • Meniscal tear surgery
  • Cruciate ligament surgery

Questions about knee arthroscopy surgery

  • What is the typical length of hospital stay?
    You can expect a same-day discharge or a one night stay.
  • How long is the procedure?
    30 minutes to 2 hours
  • What type of anaesthetic is used?
    General, spinal or local
  • Am I able to self-fund?
    Yes, you can speak to a member of our team by calling us or completing our enquiry form. They will outline guide costs and, if you have a quote for elsewhere, will make sure we price match or come out more affordable.
  • Would this procedure be covered by health insurance?
    Yes, our we are recognised by most insurance providers along with our consultants. This means that from your first appointment through to discharge your pathway would be with us.

 

What to expect at Wells Health

At Wells Health, we have dedicated orthopaedic surgeons who specialise in diagnosing and treating conditions related to bones and muscles.

We offer fast diagnosis to treatment time and our nurses and physiotherapists provide expert aftercare to help your recovery.


Procedures offered for knee arthroscopy at Wells Health


At Wells Health, we have wide experience of performing knee arthroscopy in our high-quality facilities, including operating theatres with laminar flow. These theatres regulate air flow to reduce the risk of infection.

The procedures offered to you will depend on your symptoms or condition. Some of our consultants perform microfracture where they make small holes in your bones to stimulate cartilage growth. We can also offer autograft or allograft for ACL injuries and suturing for meniscus tears. Your consultant can explain these procedures in more detail to you if they think you might benefit from them.

 

Our consultants

 

Preparing for your knee arthroscopy at Wells Health

Your consultations

For your appointments, you’ll meet your consultant in one of our consultation rooms. All our rooms are accessible, so there’s no need to worry about stairs if your knee is very painful.

If you haven’t been diagnosed yet, your consultant will do the following before a knee arthroscopy:

  • Discuss what may have happened to cause your symptoms (e.g. a sports injury or fall)
  • Ask about your medical history
  • They may recommend using our advanced scanning, imaging and diagnostic technologies to look at your knee to help understand the cause of your pain or mobility issues

Your consultations give you an opportunity to discuss your needs and expectations from your surgery. We can then outline a treatment and care plan tailored to you.


The day of your procedure

Before your procedure, you’ll meet your orthopaedic surgeon again and your anaesthetist. Depending on what you’ve agreed upon with your consultant, you’ll either have:

  • A general anaesthetic so you’re asleep
  • An epidural or spinal anaesthetic, when you can’t feel anything below your waist
  • A local anaesthetic so you can’t feel your knee

If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait while you have your operation.

 

Your procedure

Your surgeon will make two or more small incisions into your knee then pass the arthroscope (a thin, flexible, telescopic instrument with a light and a tiny video camera on the end) into your knee joint to view it
 
Any damage to cartilage or ligaments will then be repaired, loose bone fragments or scar tissue removed or tissue samples collected if there’s inflammation.

 

Your recovery

After your operation, you may go home on the same day or the following day, depending on the time of your surgery and whether you had any treatment. Your consultant may also explain to you what’s been found and whether they recommend further treatment.

Although there’s less pain after an arthroscopy than with traditional surgery, you’re likely to feel discomfort once the anaesthetic wears off. How long this lasts will depend on:

  • The cause of your knee pain
  • Whether you had any treatment during the procedure
  • If you have an ongoing knee disease or injury that needs further treatment
  • Your personal pain threshold

You’ll be given painkillers to help you manage over the following days. Your physiotherapist will also give you an exercise plan to help you get active again, plus a guide to how long your recovery will take.

Although everybody’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical recovery timeline for knee arthroscopy:


Treatment and recovery timeline 

  • Up to 1 night - Leave hospital
  • 1–2 weeks - Return to work, depending on your job
  • Around 2 weeks - May be able to drive
  • 6 weeks - Return to heavy work and sports

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow the advice of your healthcare professional and ask any questions you have.