What arthroscopy means
Knee arthroscopy is a keyhole (minimally invasive) operation that lets the surgeon look directly inside your knee using a pencil-thin camera called an arthroscope. Through two or three small incisions, a magnified live image is projected onto a screen, so every surface of the joint can be examined in fine detail.
Because the same small incisions allow miniature instruments into the joint, most problems found can be treated in the same sitting - trimming or repairing a torn meniscus, smoothing damaged cartilage, or removing loose fragments. Compared with open surgery it means far less tissue damage, less pain, a lower infection risk and a much quicker return to normal life.
Arthroscopic surgery by joint and problem
ACL reconstruction
Rebuilds a torn knee ligament with a graft.
Meniscus repair
Stitches or trims a torn knee cartilage cushion.
Cartilage repair
Treats damaged areas of the joint surface.
PCL reconstruction
Rebuilds the ligament at the back of the knee.
Shoulder arthroscopy
Keyhole treatment inside the shoulder joint.
Rotator cuff repair
Re-attaches torn shoulder tendons to the bone.
When knee arthroscopy is recommended
Many knee problems settle without surgery. Arthroscopy is considered in these situations.
- A torn meniscus causing pain, swelling, catching or locking of the knee
- Loose fragments of cartilage or bone floating in the joint
- Damaged joint cartilage that needs trimming or repair
- A knee that keeps swelling, catching or giving way despite physiotherapy
- To confirm a diagnosis when the cause of knee pain is unclear on scans
How the surgery is done
- 1
Anaesthesia & access
Under spinal or general anaesthesia, two to three keyhole incisions are made and sterile fluid gently expands the joint for a clear view.
- 2
Inspection
The arthroscope transmits a magnified image, letting Dr. Saxena systematically examine the cartilage, meniscus and ligaments.
- 3
Treatment
Using fine instruments, the torn meniscus is repaired or trimmed, rough cartilage is smoothed, and any loose fragments are removed.
- 4
Wash-out & closure
The joint is washed out, the fluid drained, and the tiny incisions closed with a stitch or adhesive strips and a light dressing.
Before your surgery
- A detailed clinical assessment and review of your scans (X-ray / MRI) to confirm the diagnosis and plan the surgery precisely.
- Routine pre-operative blood tests, an ECG if needed, and a fitness-for-anaesthesia check by the anaesthetist.
- Stopping blood-thinning medication (such as aspirin or clopidogrel) only if advised, and disclosing every medicine and supplement you take.
- Fasting for around 6 hours before surgery, and arranging a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you for your first night at home.
- Preparing your home for recovery - ice packs, loose clothing, and a clear path free of trip hazards.
Recovery timeline
Days 1-3
Rest, ice and elevate the leg. You'll walk with support the same day and be shown gentle movement and quadriceps exercises.
Weeks 1-2
Swelling settles, the dressing and stitches are checked, and guided physiotherapy begins to restore movement and strength.
Weeks 3-6
By this stage most people are back at desk work and returning to more active work and daily activities; sport follows once strength returns.
How to recover well
- Follow the RICE principle early - rest, ice 15-20 minutes several times a day, gentle compression and elevation to control swelling.
- Take pain relief as prescribed rather than waiting for pain to build, and keep the wound clean and dry.
- Attend every physiotherapy session and do your home exercises - rehabilitation is as important as the surgery itself.
- Progress activity gradually and don't return to sport until you're formally cleared, to protect the operated joint.
- Watch for warning signs - spreading redness, fever, calf pain or increasing swelling - and call us if they appear.
What arthroscopy costs
The cost depends on what is treated, the hospital and the room, so a figure before reviewing your scan would not mean much.
Send your MRI on WhatsApp for a written quote. RGHS and cashless cover is available at Shalby Hospital, subject to your scheme or policy.
Risks and results
The great majority of patients get reliable relief of mechanical symptoms such as catching and locking, and return to their normal activities within a few weeks. When a meniscus is preserved rather than removed, the knee is also better protected against future arthritis.
- Swelling, bruising or temporary stiffness that settles with rehabilitation
- Infection (uncommon) - treated promptly with antibiotics
- A blood clot in the leg (rare), which is why early movement is encouraged
- Occasionally, symptoms persist if the joint damage is more advanced than expected
Watch how arthroscopy helps
Dr. Saxena explains keyhole surgery and recovery on his YouTube channel.
Watch on YouTubeQuestions patients ask
Orthopaedic surgeons with arthroscopy training do it at hospitals across Jaipur. Dr. Abhishek Saxena holds a fellowship in arthroscopy and sports medicine and performs knee and shoulder arthroscopy at Shalby Multi-Specialty Hospital, Vaishali Nagar, with consultations at Durgapura as well.
Arthroscopy means looking inside a joint with a thin camera called an arthroscope. The same small cuts let the surgeon treat what is found, so it is often called keyhole or minimally invasive joint surgery.
Usually not as a first step. Arthroscopy helps with mechanical problems such as a locking knee from a torn meniscus. It is generally not recommended for ordinary arthritis pain, where physiotherapy, weight management and other treatments come first.
Most patients are pleasantly surprised. Discomfort is usually mild and well controlled with simple pain relief, and settles far faster than after open surgery.
You'll walk with support the same day and usually without aids within a few days. Driving is typically safe once you can control the car comfortably and are off strong painkillers - often within a week or two.
Desk-based workers often return within a few days to a week, while those with physically demanding jobs may need two to four weeks depending on what was treated.
Yes - a short, structured physiotherapy programme is the single biggest factor in regaining full strength, movement and confidence in the knee.
The incisions are only about a centimetre long and usually fade to faint marks over time.