Skip to content

Knee arthroscopy (keyhole surgery of the knee joint) can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Common arthroscopic operations include meniscectomy (trimming the meniscus), meniscal repair, ligament reconstruction (see About Knees page) and microfracture (bone drilling to encourage cartilage healing). Most arthroscopic procedures are performed as day case operations, meaning the patient can go home on the same day with minimal discomfort. Most operations involve two or three small incisions around the knee which reduces the risk of wound problems and pain. Some knee problems are not amenable to arthroscopic surgery and scans or X-rays may help decide whether arthroscopy can help.

Arthroscopic view inside the knee showing a tear of the meniscus (red arrow). The metal device is a probe being used to demonstrate the tear. The normal part of the meniscus is shown with a black arrow.

Arthroscopic view inside the knee showing a tear of the meniscus (red arrow). The metal device is a probe being used to demonstrate the tear. The normal part of the meniscus is shown with a black arrow.