Health Library

Knee arthroscopy - series

Normal anatomy

The knee is a complex joint made up of the distal end of the femur (femoral condyles) and the proximal end of the tibia (tibial plateau). A number of ligaments run between the femur and the tibia in the knee joint. The anterior cruciate ligament, the posterior cruciate ligament, and the meniscal ligaments are among the ligaments of the knee joint.

Indications

Injury to the ligaments of the knee are common sports-related injuries.

Arthroscopy, which involves the use of a small camera and small instruments on the end of long narrow tubes, introduced into the knee through small incisions, may be recommended for knee problems such as:

• A torn knee disc (meniscus)
• A damaged knee bone (patella)
• A damaged ligament
• Inflamed or damaged lining of the joint (synovium)

Procedure, part 1

Several small punctures are made into the knee joint while the patient is deep asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia) or sleepy (sedated) and pain-free (regional anesthesia or spinal anesthesia).

Procedure, part 2

The viewing scope (arthroscope) and other instruments are inserted into the knee joint. The surgeon can see the ligaments, the knee disc (meniscus), the knee bone (patella), the lining of the joint (synovium), and the rest of the joint. Damaged tissues can be removed. Arthroscopy can also be used to help view the inside of the knee while ligaments or tendons are repaired from the outside.

Aftercare

Patients are usually able to leave the hospital after arthroscopic knee surgery within 24 hours of surgery. The recovery time, and the need for physical therapy after surgery are determined by the injury treated and the procedure performed.

Related Information

Review Date: 6/13/2021  

Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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