Knee arthroscopy

Surgery

Under general anaesthesia an 8 mm incision is made over your knee and a lens is inserted into the joint. This enables the surgeon to view the structures in the knee. If any other procedure - such as removing torn pieces of cartilage, shaving joint surfaces, or removal of loose bodies - is necessary, an additional small incision or two may need to be made.

After surgery

Depending on your doctor's preference, you may need to stay in bed on the day of your operation. However your doctor may allow you to go home the same day. The next day your legs can begin to bear your full weight without the use of crutches. If a drainage tube was inserted in your knee, your doctor will decide when it can be removed, depending on the amount of fluid drained. Once your doctor is satisfied with your condition, you will be discharged.

Note: You should not remove the bandage from your knee until your follow-up visit, which is generally ten days after surgery. The bandage limits joint movement and reduces the amount of fluid that tends to accumulate in the joint following surgery. If the bandage becomes loose or slips down, re-bandage the knee reasonably firmly.

Warning signs for complications

Should you encounter any problems (e.g. bleeding, redness or swelling) you should contact your doctor immediately.

Exercise

In order to prevent degeneration of the leg muscle, you should exercise your leg by raising and straightening it as you were shown in hospital. Ideally you should do three hundred of these exercises per day to aid speedy rehabilitation.