KNEE ARTHROSCOPY

Knee arthroscopy is performed for several knee injuries, such as meniscal tears, damage to the articular surface of the knee, and patella (knee cap) problems.

The operation is performed as a day case procedure performed under a general anaesthetic, and usually takes around 30-45 minutes to complete. Discharge from hospital is usually 3-4 hours after the procedure. The knee is filled with local anaesthetic after the procedure to provide adequate pain relief. Two to three days after the operation, the knee may feel sore and swollen, and you are advised to rest and ice the joint during this time.

Recovery obviously depends on the amount of surgery performed in the joint. Most people are back to driving within 3-5 days and able to walk relatively comfortably at this time. For the first 6 weeks after surgery, physiotherapy is needed to rehabilitate the joint.