✦ Keyhole Diagnostic & Surgical Procedure

Knee Arthroscopy

Q: Is knee arthroscopy a major operation?

No. Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive day-case procedure performed through tiny portals. Patients go home the same day and resume light activities within days. The risk profile is substantially lower than any traditional open surgical procedure.

Q: What conditions inside the knee can arthroscopy address?

Arthroscopy can diagnose and treat meniscal tears, cruciate ligament injuries, cartilage lesions, loose bodies, synovitis, patellofemoral disorders, plica syndrome, and septic arthritis — often treating multiple conditions in a single operative session.

Q: How long does recovery from knee arthroscopy take?

Recovery depends entirely on what was treated. Following a simple washout or partial meniscectomy, patients return to sport within 4–6 weeks. After ligament reconstruction, recovery extends to 6–9 months of progressive rehabilitation.

Q: Does knee arthroscopy require general anaesthesia?

Most arthroscopic procedures are performed under spinal or general anaesthesia. For straightforward diagnostic examinations, local anaesthesia with sedation can occasionally suffice. The anaesthetic choice depends on the expected complexity and duration of the procedure.

A small camera inserted through tiny incisions provides live direct visualisation inside the knee — enabling simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of meniscal tears, ligament injuries, cartilage damage, and joint pathology.

30–90 min PROCEDURE

Day Care HOSPITAL STAY

>90% SUCCESS RATE

2–8 Weeks FULL RECOVERY

What is Knee Arthroscopy?

Knee arthroscopy uses a high-definition fibre-optic camera — the arthroscope — introduced through a small incision to project live images of the joint's interior onto a monitor screen. Surgical instruments inserted through additional small portals allow simultaneous treatment of any pathology identified. Unlike imaging investigations, arthroscopy reveals the true status of every structure inside the joint in real time — the degree of cartilage wear, the exact tear pattern, the ligament integrity. Dr. Sai Kishan uses knee arthroscopy at Lux Hospitals both as the entry point for definitive surgical procedures and as a standalone diagnostic tool when imaging leaves questions unanswered.

Appropriate for patients with mechanical knee symptoms — locking, catching, swelling, instability, or pain on loading — where clinical assessment and imaging suggest intra-articular pathology requiring direct arthroscopic evaluation or treatment that cannot be adequately addressed conservatively.

How the Procedure Works

Anaesthesia & Portal Marking

Spinal or general anaesthesia; the knee is positioned and portal entry sites are marked before draping.

Camera Insertion & Joint Survey

The arthroscope is introduced and a methodical survey of all compartments, menisci, ligaments, cartilage surfaces, and the patellofemoral joint is performed.

Pathology Identification

Any tear, lesion, loose body, inflamed tissue, or structural abnormality is identified, characterised, and photographed for the operative record.

Surgical Intervention

The identified pathology is treated in the same session — repair, resection, debridement, loose body removal, or reconstruction — depending on findings.

Portal Closure & Discharge Planning

Portals are closed with sutures; ice, elevation, and physiotherapy instructions are provided and the patient is discharged on the same day.

Outcomes

30–90 minDURATION

Day CaseHOSPITAL STAY

>90%SUCCESS RATE

2–8 WeeksRETURN TO SPORT

Who Needs This Treatment?

→Real-time direct visualisation of every structure within the knee joint
→Diagnose and treat multiple pathologies through the same small portals
→Minimally invasive — no large incisions, no significant scarring, rapid return to activity
→Day-case procedure — the patient goes home on the same day as surgery
→Avoids open surgery in the vast majority of knee conditions requiring intervention
→Gold-standard approach for meniscal, cartilage, ligament, and synovial conditions

Arthroscopy lets us see the truth of what is happening inside the knee — and then fix it, all through incisions smaller than a centimetre. The diagnostic and therapeutic value in a single session is extraordinary.

— — Dr. Sai Kishan Sirasala, Knee and Hip Joint Replacement & Robotic Surgery

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

Is knee arthroscopy a major operation?+

What conditions inside the knee can arthroscopy address?+

How long does recovery from knee arthroscopy take?+

Does knee arthroscopy require general anaesthesia?+

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

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