Knee Arthroscopy  

Knee arthroscopy is a means of assessing and treating the knee joint using a minimally invasive technique, which enables a more rapid recovery and return to work. The technique can address intra-articular knee pathology such as meniscal tears,  osteochondral defects, and loose bodies.

Meniscal Tear  

Patients with a Meniscal tear generally present with knee pain provoked by twisting, or impact sports. This begins to have an impact on their ability to run, but can progress to affect walking and even sleeping.  

In Clinic  

A consultation would involve a series of questions to assess the degree of pain and the impact it is having on your level of activity. Please be prepared for a clinical examination of your hip to help find the cause of your pain. A plain Xray picks up most knee conditions and can be carried out and read at an initial consultation. Pre- arthritic conditions are best further assessed with an MRI scan.  

Surgery  

If the cause of the knee pain can be addressed arthroscopically this involves admission as a daycase. You would require a general anaesthetic so the compartments of the knee joint can be examined arthroscopically, and a meniscal tear can be debrided or repaired. 

Post-operatively  

Patients usually wake up with swelling in their knee from the water used to inflate the joint during the arthroscopic examination. The physiotherapist will have explained preoperatively how to manage crutches and these are usually only necessary for two days. You will also be given some exercises by the physiotherapist and you should plan to start gentle early range of movement exercises immediately to prevent stiffness due to surgical scarring.  

Work  

Most patients are advised to take two weeks off work. Some may work from home in the second week, but the advice is mainly to prevent early complications such as bleeding or pain provoked by attempting to return to work too early. If your work is relatively manual it would be worth discussing a staged return to work with your employer.  

Activity  

You should be able to manage low impact exercises such as a static bike and swimming from two weeks after surgery. By four to six weeks the hip should feel almost normal for day to day activities, and you should be able to return to the gym. You can progress on to cross training and then on to a treadmill as able; most have returned to running and team sports by three months.  

Driving  

You shouldn’t be driving while you are using crutches to walk, as there would be concern about your ability to manage an emergency stop. When you are able to walk independently and climb into and out of a car comfortably you should be safe to drive. But if you are planning to drive early after surgery please contact your insurer to ensure they are aware and prepared to cover you in the event of an accident.  

Flying  

There is a potentially increased risk of thromboembolism up to three months after surgery. The risk is dependent on length of flight, and preexisting risk factors. If you are considering a long-haul flight within six weeks of surgery it may be worth considering chemoprophylaxis to reduce the risk.  

Potential complications of surgery  

Surgery becomes ever safer and complications are rare, but there are still risks involved. There are general complications from any surgery such as infection, thromboembolism (blood clots), and blood vessel and nerve injury.

Warning signs  

Please contact my secretary or visit your GP if:

 -You develop a temperature and the knee becomes increasingly painful, as there is a risk of infection. 

-You develop increasing pain and swelling in your leg as there is a risk of thrombosis with lower limb surgery.