Knee Arthroscopy

About Knee Arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat problems inside the knee joint through small incisions rather than a large open cut. The surgeon inserts a thin fiber-optic camera, called an arthroscope, along with slender surgical instruments through a few small portals around the knee, allowing direct visualization of the cartilage, ligaments, meniscus, and joint lining on a monitor. It is commonly used to trim or repair torn meniscus tissue, remove loose cartilage fragments, smooth roughened cartilage surfaces, wash out inflamed joint tissue, or address other structural causes of persistent knee pain, swelling, catching, or locking that have not responded to rest, physiotherapy, or medication. The procedure is usually done under spinal, regional, or general anesthesia and takes anywhere from thirty minutes to just over an hour depending on the findings and treatment required. Because the incisions are small, patients typically experience less postoperative pain and a faster return to daily activity than with open knee surgery. Indian orthopedic centers routinely perform knee arthroscopy on a day-care or short-stay basis, with most patients walking with support on the same day and beginning guided physiotherapy shortly afterward to restore full knee function.