Knee Arthroscopy – Procedure, Benefits, and Specialists in Knee Arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy—also known as knee arthroscopy or knee endoscopy—is a modern, minimally invasive surgical procedure. During the procedure, the surgeon gains access to the knee joint through two small incisions in the skin. A camera and fine instruments are inserted into the joint through these incisions, allowing the structures inside to be visualized and treated directly if necessary.

This type of arthroscopic surgery has several advantages:

• only small incisions instead of large skin openings
• usually no visible scars
• The procedure is particularly gentle
• local or regional anesthesia is often sufficient, so general anesthesia is not always necessary
• Recovery is faster, and follow-up care is less complicated

As a result, minimally invasive knee surgery has largely replaced the open surgery that was previously standard and is now considered the standard procedure.

Arthroscopy usually takes between 45 and 90 minutes @ romaset /AdobeStock

Knee arthroscopy is performed using an arthroscope—a thin tube equipped with a light source, a camera, and irrigation and suction systems. This allows the surgeon to view the inside of the knee joint and conduct a targeted examination of the joint. Through additional small incisions, the surgeon inserts other instruments to perform various procedures directly within the joint.

Possible procedures include, among others:

• removing tissue or loose bodies,
• repairing menisci or ligaments,
• smoothing or shaving surfaces,
• aspirating tissue fragments or flushing the joint with saline solution to improve visibility.

Knee arthroscopy serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes: On the one hand, it allows for the assessment of structures such as cartilage, menisci, or ligaments; on the other hand, it enables the direct repair of minor damage. It is used, among other things, to treat meniscal tears, cruciate ligament tears, or cartilage damage.

In cases of early-stage knee osteoarthritis, the procedure can help alleviate symptoms and delay the progression of the condition. However, the method is less suitable for advanced cases, and major knee surgery or a knee replacement is often necessary in such situations.

Arthroscopic surgery is therefore an important procedure for visualizing damaged structures and treating them directly if necessary.

Knee arthroscopy, also known as knee endoscopy, is one of the most common minimally invasive surgeries performed on the musculoskeletal system. To perform knee arthroscopy, the surgeon first makes two small incisions in the skin. Through these incisions, the arthroscope—which includes an integrated camera, light source, and suction and irrigation system—is inserted into the joint. An additional probe or other specialized instruments allow for direct treatment inside the joint cavity.

The camera image is transmitted in real time to a monitor in the operating room. This allows the surgeon to accurately assess the entire knee joint and its interior and decide whether further surgical procedures are necessary—such as smoothing joint surfaces, treating cartilage damage, or repairing a meniscus or cruciate ligament tear.

Before the procedure, the skin is thoroughly disinfected to create a sterile environment. Anesthesia is then administered, either as general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or spinal anesthesia. The anesthesiologist selects the appropriate type based on the findings.

The actual procedure usually lasts between 45 and 90 minutes. Afterward, the doctor removes the arthroscope, inserts drains, and closes the small incisions with sutures. The sutures can be removed after just a few days.

Before the surgery, imaging tests such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT scans are usually performed. These facilitate planning and show the doctor which structures may be damaged.

Postoperative care after knee arthroscopy depends on whether the procedure is performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. If the knee arthroscopy is performed on an outpatient basis, patients can usually go home the same day. For inpatient treatment, doctors generally recommend a hospital stay of two to three days until drains are removed and initial follow-up examinations have been completed.

Immediately after surgery, the leg should be elevated and rested. Targeted physical therapy begins shortly thereafter to restore mobility in the knee joint and strengthen the muscles. In the first few days, forearm crutches are often used to take the weight off the operated leg.

In most cases, the knee can bear full weight again after about four to six weeks—significantly faster than after open knee surgery. The duration of time off work varies depending on the occupation: A return to work is possible sooner for less physically demanding jobs, while heavy lifting or prolonged standing may require a longer recovery period.

The stitches are removed after 12–14 days @ Patryk Kosmider /AdobeStock

Knee arthroscopy is considered a very safe and minimally invasive procedure. Nevertheless, no surgical procedure is completely risk-free. Even with arthroscopic surgery, which is performed under sterile conditions in an operating room, certain complications can occur.

These include, for example:

• Infections around the small incisions,
• postoperative bleeding or hematomas,
• thrombosis,
• allergic reactions to the anesthetic,
• and, rarely, impaired wound healing.

Overall, however, such side effects occur rarely. One advantage of this method is that the strain on the knee joint is significantly less than with open procedures. Among the advantages and disadvantages, however, is that knee arthroscopy is not always sufficient in cases of severe degenerative changes. In these cases, a more extensive surgery is often required, such as the implantation of an artificial knee joint.