Contact number: 020 7806 4010
Contact number: 020 7078 3831
What is knee arthroscopy?
A knee arthroscopy is a procedure used to diagnose and treat a range of knee injuries. An arthroscopy involves making a small incision in your knee and inserting a tiny tube with a camera and light through this. The camera sends images to a monitor allowing your surgeon to examine the interior of the knee. Tiny tools are inserted through another small incision, which are used to repair or remove damaged tissue. A knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery, which means the incisions made in your skin will be small (about the size of a keyhole).
A knee arthroscopy can be used to:
- Diagnose injuries
- Repair injured soft tissues and bones, such as tendons, ligaments or cartilage
- Remove damaged or inflamed tissue, such as damaged bone and cartilage or inflamed tissue
A knee arthroscopy may be recommended if you have knee pain that is not getting better with non-surgical treatments such as rest, ice and physiotherapy or if you have severely injured your knee. Common knee injuries that can be treated with arthroscopy include anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears, patellar tendonitis and torn meniscus.
Hospital Fee Guaranteed
£3,095
The price shown includes all costs associated with your treatment, from admission to discharge.
Doesn’t include surgeon or anaesthetist fee.
Our hospital fee is guaranteed at the price quoted and valid for one month from the date issued, subject to pre-assessment.
How to pay for your treatment
If you’re… paying for yourself
Did you know you don’t need private medical insurance to come to St John & St Elizabeth Hospital? As a self-pay patient, you can access safe, outstanding quality health care at times to suit you.
For scans and tests, as well as to see most consultants, you’ll still need to be referred by a medical professional like your GP, but as a self-pay patient, the process is more straightforward. You won’t need authorisation from an insurance provider, and you’ll have greater choice of consultant and appointment times.
If you’re… insured
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is approved by all major medical insurance companies. If you have a personal private health insurance policy, or your company provide it for you, you can use it to pay for your care from your initial consultation through to treatment, surgery and aftercare such as physiotherapy. Not all private health insurance plans cover the same things. It’s very important to check exactly what you are covered for with your insurance provider.
Appointment
You will have an initial consultation with a specialist knee surgeon.
Treatment plan
During this appointment, you will go through your medical history, have a knee exam and if needed, be referred for an up-to-date scan (such as X-rays or MRI) of your knee. If surgery is recommended, your doctor will explain the risk and benefits of surgery and what to expect from recovery. Together, you will decide whether a knee arthroscopy is the best option for you.
Prehab
Your knee needs to be in the best condition possible before surgery, as this will lead to better outcomes. Once your swelling has gone down, you should follow your physiotherapist’s exercise programme.
Pre-op assessment
If you decide to go ahead with surgery, you will need to come in for a pre-assessment, which is a standard ‘fitness for surgery’ check.
Surgery
You will be able to walk the same day with the help of a knee brace or crutches. You can go home the same day.
Aftercare
You will need to keep your wound clean and dry, take pain relief and have physiotherapy consistently. You will not be able to fly short haul for six weeks or long-haul for 12 weeks. We have an excellent therapies team at our hospital that can support you throughout your recovery.
Follow-Up
You will have a follow-up appointment with your doctor at two weeks, where any stitches will be removed. You may need further check-ups at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Your doctor will discuss the extent of the damage to your knee and how it affects your quality of life. Knee arthroscopy is usually recommended if surgery could improve function and reduce pain.
Preparation includes attending a pre-assessment where we check your fitness with blood, heart, and lung tests, and providing antibacterial soap to reduce infection risk. You may also benefit from ‘prehab’ with a physiotherapist to strengthen muscles and improve range of motion, which aids recovery. Our therapies team can help before and after surgery if needed.
If you’re taking blood thinners (like warfarin or aspirin) or NSAIDs (like ibuprofen), please inform your doctor as you may need to adjust these a week before surgery. Your doctor will provide specific instructions if this applies to you.
Stop eating six hours before surgery and drinking (even water) two hours before. Wear loose clothing and bring essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, your phone and charger, and any prescribed medications. When you arrive, a nurse will check your vitals, and your doctor will review the procedure and ask you to sign a consent form.
You’ll receive either general or spinal anaesthesia, after which the surgeon will use small incisions to examine and repair your knee with a camera and tiny tools. This procedure takes about an hour. After surgery, you’ll return to a private room, where nurses will monitor you. Once you’re stable, have eaten, and your surgeon has updated you, you’ll be discharged.
Recovery involves taking prescribed painkillers, elevating your knee, and using a cold wrap for swelling. Within 2-3 weeks, you should start walking without a brace and can usually return to office work. Avoid flying for at least six weeks (short-haul) and 12 weeks (long-haul) to reduce clot risk. Regular physiotherapy from two weeks onwards will help strengthen your knee. If you’d like assistance, our physiotherapists are here to support your recovery.
Medically reviewed by Mr Sujith Konan - MBBS MD(res) MRCS FRCS(Tr&Orth), Honorary Associate Professor (UCLH)