Knee Arthroscopy — precise keyhole surgery for a faster comeback
A minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat problems inside the knee — torn cartilage, ligament damage or loose fragments — through a few small incisions, with less pain and a quicker return to activity than open surgery.
What Knee Arthroscopy actually involves
Knee arthroscopy uses a tiny camera and instruments inserted through small incisions to examine and treat the inside of the knee directly. It's commonly used to repair a torn meniscus, reconstruct a ligament, remove loose fragments or smooth damaged cartilage, all without opening up the joint.
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Thorough pre-surgical workup
X-rays, joint alignment assessment and fitness evaluation confirm exactly what's damaged inside the knee and guide the surgical plan.
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Total or partial replacement
Only a few small incisions are needed to access the joint, keeping the surgery minimally invasive and preserving healthy tissue.
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Motion restored, not just pain reduced
The goal is fixing the specific problem inside the knee — a tear, damage or instability — with minimal disruption to the surrounding joint.
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Structured rehabilitation
A guided physiotherapy programme starts within a day of surgery, building strength and range of motion in a controlled way.
When Knee Arthroscopy is the right choice
A torn meniscus causing catching, locking or pain that hasn't improved with rest and physiotherapy.
An ACL or other ligament tear causing the knee to feel unstable or give way during sport or daily activity.
Fragments of bone or cartilage floating in the knee causing intermittent locking, clicking or sharp pain.
Localised wear or injury to the smooth cartilage surface, often in younger, active patients, causing pain with activity.
Ongoing symptoms where imaging hasn't given a clear answer, needing a direct look inside the joint to diagnose.
Inflammation or thickening of the joint lining that needs to be trimmed or sampled for diagnosis.
How Knee Arthroscopy is carried out
The sequence below is how most knee arthroscopy cases are worked through, from first visit to returning to normal activity.
Evaluation & planning
Examination and X-rays confirm the extent of joint damage and assess the knee, and an MRI usually confirms the specific problem and whether arthroscopy is the right approach.
Pre-surgical fitness check
Routine blood work and anaesthesia assessment confirm you're ready; most patients are fit for this same-day or short-stay procedure.
The surgery itself
Small instruments and a camera are inserted through a few tiny incisions to repair, trim or reconstruct the damaged structures, typically completed in 30–60 minutes.
Early mobilisation
Most patients go home the same day and begin gentle weight-bearing and movement almost immediately, guided by the surgical team.
Recovery & follow-up
A structured physiotherapy programme rebuilds strength and range of motion, with scheduled reviews tracking your return to sport or daily activity.
What patients gain from Knee Arthroscopy
Smaller incisions mean less post-operative pain than open knee surgery.
A few small incisions heal faster and leave far less scarring than traditional open surgery.
Many patients return to daily activity within days and to sport within weeks to months, depending on the procedure.
Most arthroscopic knee procedures don't require an overnight hospital stay.
Dr. Lakshmikanth Reddy K
M.B.B.S., D.Ortho, DNB (Ortho) — Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with particular experience in arthroscopic knee surgery, including meniscus repair, ligament reconstruction and cartilage procedures
Knee arthroscopy led by an experienced orthopaedic surgeon
Dr. Lakshmikanth Reddy K evaluates each knee carefully, using imaging alongside clinical examination to confirm arthroscopy is the right approach before recommending surgery.
Every plan is tailored to your specific knee injury, activity goals and sport, with a rehabilitation pathway geared toward getting you back to what you enjoy doing.
Frequently asked questions
Arthroscopy uses a few small incisions and a camera instead of one large cut, which generally means less pain, smaller scars and a quicker recovery, while achieving the same surgical goal for most knee problems.
Most patients walk with support within a day of surgery, manage stairs within a couple of weeks, and resume most daily activities within 6–12 weeks, with strength continuing to improve for several months.
Many patients walk with minimal support within a day or two, though the exact timeline depends on what was repaired — a simple meniscus trim recovers faster than an ACL reconstruction.
Physiotherapy is essential — it rebuilds strength and range of motion around the new joint and is one of the biggest factors in how well and how quickly a patient recovers.
Yes, physiotherapy is an important part of recovery for most arthroscopic procedures, particularly after ligament reconstruction, to rebuild strength and stability around the knee.
For most cases, yes — patients typically go home the same day. More involved reconstructions may occasionally need a short overnight stay depending on individual factors.
Book a consultation for Knee Arthroscopy
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- Locked or acutely unstable knees are seen the same day