Your knee is the largest joint in your body and one of the most complex. The bones that make up the knee include the lower end of the femur (thighbone), the upper end of the tibia (shinbone), and the patella (kneecap).
Other important structures that make up the knee joint include:
Your doctor may recommend knee arthroscopy if you have a painful condition that does not respond to nonsurgical treatment. Nonsurgical treatment includes rest, physical therapy, and medications or injections that can reduce inflammation.
Knee arthroscopy may relieve painful symptoms of many problems that damage the cartilage surfaces and other soft tissues surrounding the joint.
Common arthroscopic procedures for the knee include:
Your orthopaedic surgeon may recommend that you see your primary doctor to assess your general health before your surgery. He or she will identify any problems that may interfere with the procedure. If you have certain health risks, a more extensive evaluation may be necessary before your surgery.
To help plan your procedure, your orthopaedic surgeon may order preoperative tests. These may include blood tests or an electrocardiogram (EKG).
If you are generally healthy, your knee arthroscopy will most likely be performed as an outpatient. This means you will not need to stay overnight at the hospital.
Be sure to inform your orthopaedic surgeon of any medications or supplements that you take. You may need to stop taking some of these before surgery.
The hospital or surgery center will contact you ahead of time to provide specific details of your procedure. Make sure to follow the instructions on when to arrive and especially on when to stop eating or drinking prior to your procedure.
Before your surgery, a member of the anesthesia team will talk with you. Knee arthroscopy can be performed under local, regional, or general anesthesia:
Your orthopaedic surgeon and your anesthesiologist will talk to you about which method is best for you.
Knee ligament injuries are a common problem. When undergoing ligament reconstruction surgery, there are a whole host of various options that must be discussed with your surgeon in detail before going ahead. One important discussion is about what type of graft is going to be used.
The most commonly torn ligament inside the knee is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL normally stops the top of the shin bone from slipping forwards. Patients with continuing instability should have the ligament surgically reconstructed.The results of ACL reconstruction are excellent
The surfaces of the ends of the bones in the knee are covered in a layer of smooth white cartilage, called ‘articular cartilage’. Cartilage can be damaged by trauma or through wear and tear (arthritis). Cartilage damage can cause pain, swelling, clicking, giving way or locking in the knee.
Damage to the articular cartilage surfaces in the knee causes pain and disability. Thinning and roughening of the articular cartilage can progress to severe wear and eventually patches of bare bone rubbing on bare bone in the knee (severe arthritis).
Ligament tears around the knee are a common injury. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the most commonly torn ligament deep inside the knee. The Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) most commonly injured ligament on the side of the knee.
The practice of surgery has advanced greatly in recent years, and the diagnosis and treatment of conditions has become very technically advanced. Surgical techniques are being refined and improved upon all the time, with keyhole surgery and short stays in hospital
Arthroscopy of the knee means keyhole surgery of the joint. Knee arthroscopy was first introduced into the UK in the 1970s and has grown to be one of the most commonly performed Orthopaedic procedures.
The meniscal cartilages are elastic shock absorbers inside the knee and damage to them increases the risk of future arthritis. Meniscal tears are very common surgical treatment is often performed using knee arthroscopy
Patellofemoral symptoms of pain, swelling and giving way are extremely common. Patellofemoral pain and swelling requires expert investigation and diagnosis to avoid inappropriate treatment.
The ends of the bones inside the knee are covered in a layer of smooth white cartilage. Arthritis is a group of conditions in which this cartilage wears away, eventually exposing bare bone. Arthritis in the knee causes pain, stiffness and swelling. Other symptoms may include clicking, giving way or locking.
‘Anterior Knee Pain’ is NOT a diagnosis ! It is simply a symptom – meaning that a patient is complaining of pain at the front of the knee. at the front of the knee may be due to a variety of possible causes. The exact site of the pain and the nature of the actual symptoms will give a strong guide as to the potential likely causes.
Inside the knee there is a layer of smooth white cartilage covering the surfaces of the bones – this is called articular cartilage. This cartilage can get damaged from trauma or from wear and tear (arthritis) cartilage damage in the knee can cause pain, swelling, clicking, giving way or locking the best investigation is an MRI scan.
There are several important ligaments in and around the knee. The ligaments provide stability to the joint. Damage to the ligaments on the outside of the knee (the collaterals) often heals up without surgery. Ligament damage inside the knee – especially the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
Tendonitis means ‘inflammation of a tendon’. This can happen spontaneously or from overuse, eg in runners. Inflammation of the tendon at the front of the knee below the kneecap is called ‘patellar tendonitis’. Inflammation of the tendons just above the front of the knee is called ‘quadriceps
Meniscal Tears are among the most common knee injuries. Athletes, particularly those who play contact sports, are at risk for meniscus tears. However, anyone at any age can tear a meniscus. When people talk about torn cartilage in the knee, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus.
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