Knee Arthroscopy

What conditions may benefit from knee arthroscopy?

• Knees that give way (meniscal tears/ligament injuries)
• Knees that get stuck in a position (locking) (meniscal tears/loose fragments of cartilage or bone)
• Pain around the joint after an injury (meniscal tears)
• Pain at the front of the knee (chondromalacia patellae – softening and fraying of cartilage of the knee cap)
• Early arthritis may benefit if there are mechanical symptoms such as locking and giving way of the joint
• Abnormal tracking of the patella (knee cap)

Recovery/rehab:

• Normally you would require about 2 weeks off work (6 for manual labourers)
• Wounds should be checked at 2 weeks and sutures removed
• Physiotherapy, full range of motion and weightbearing is encouraged from day1
• The first 4 weeks is aimed at range of motion and swelling control
• The 4-8weeks period concentrates on strengthening and stability exercises.
• Gradual return to sport at about 8 weeks starting with non impact and progressing as pain allows

Complications:

These are fortunately very rare and when they do occur are relatively minor:

• Infection: there is less than 0.5% risk of an infection and can generally be managed with a short course of antibiotics, more serious infections are much rarer but may require return to theatre to have the knee washed out with saline.
• Bleeding: its common for the wounds to leak blood onto the dressings in the first 1-2 days but this should stop after that period. Major bleeding is extremely rare
• Stiffness/swelling and bruising: it’s common to be swollen and stiff for the first 6weeks after arthroscopy but this will improve with physiotherapy and gentle exercise
• Damage to small nerves at the wound site: you may experience some numbness around the scars for some time after the surgery