MRI of Knee showing a tear of the Medial Meniscus.The meniscus has a triangular appearance which is changed when the structure is damaged – split horizontally here.

Meniscal tear- Unstable cartilage pieces pull on lining of the joint causing pain and mechanical symptoms such as locking or catching.

Arthroscopy For Cartilage Damage

What is Knee Arthroscopy? 

Knee arthroscopy is a common surgical procedure in which the knee joint is viewed using a small high definition camera. This allows the diagnosis and treatment of a range of knee conditions. 

What does Knee arthroscopy involve? 

Arthroscopy is done through small incisions (keyhole surgery). 

During the procedure a small telescope about the size of a pencil is inserted into your knee joint. The high definition camera attached to this arthroscope sends the image to a high resolution television monitor. 

Structures of the knee can be seen and tested in great detail. 

Using small specialised surgical instruments inserted through other incisions around your knee Mr Jennings can use arthroscopy to feel, repair or remove damaged tissue. 

The surgery usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes to complete and is carried out under general anaesthetic as a day case procedure. Prior to your surgery details of your treatment and recovery will be discussed with you by Mr Jennings. 

What is a torn cartilage? 

There are two meniscal cartilages in the knee. The inner (medial) or outer (lateral) meniscus. These are made of specialised collagen fibres and act to spread the load through the knee, as a sort of shock absorber.  

The meniscus can be torn or damaged leading to mechanical irritation of the knee. The cartilage itself has no nerves in it but it is attached to the lining of the knee which is very sensitive. If the damaged cartilage pulls on the sensitive lining it will cause pain. Occasionally big tears may cause mechanical problems, such as giving way and lack of extension (when the knee cannot go straight or is “locked). 

Treatment can be either through pain relief and rehabilitation or by surgery to either repair the cartilage or remove the damaged parts causing the irritation. All treatment options will be discussed in full with you. Often the information from an MRI scan can help steer you to the best management plan to suit your symptoms and needs. Repair of the cartilage often requires a slower recovery and protecting the cartilage in a knee brace for several weeks. 

Recovery

Your recovery program will start immediately and will be tailored to your surgery and requirements. You will be instructed on basic self-directed exercises for the immediate post-operative period. In most cases you will walk out of the hospital. 

Keep wounds clean, dry, and covered at all times until outpatient review. The waterproof dressing will allow showering but not bathing/immersion. 

Mr Jennings will go through details of your surgery before your discharge and will go over this again when you return to the out-patient clinic for review approximately 2 week later. 

MRI of Knee showing a tear of the Medial Meniscus.The meniscus has a triangular appearance which is changed when the structure is damaged – split horizontally here.

Meniscal tear- Unstable cartilage pieces pull on lining of the joint causing pain and mechanical symptoms such as locking or catching.

Arthroscopy of Knee FAQ

After surgery you will have a bandage on your knee that will be changed for a tubigrip (elasticated) dressing after a day. The tubigrip can be removed when any swelling has subsided or if too uncomfortable.

Your incisions will be protected with waterproof dressings that should be left until review in outpatient clinic. Ideally keep the wounds dry for 2 weeks.

The local anaesthetic injection into the knee wears off approximately 8 to 12 hours after the surgery. You may notice a gradual increase in discomfort at this time. Rest, elevation, ice and pain medication are all helpful in relieving discomfort for the first 1 to 2 days after surgery. On discharge from hospital you may be provided with a prescription for some pain relief which you can use when this occurs. The prescription painkillers will be quite strong and should be used when the knee is very uncomfortable. If the pain is relatively mild then a non-prescription tablet such as paracetamol should be used.

If in doubt contact your surgeon.

Rehabilitation starts immediately after surgery.

  • Tense your thigh muscle (quadriceps for 10 seconds then relax for 10 seconds). Repeat for two minutes every waking hour
  • Ankle movement exercises to prevent blood pooling in the calf. Move toe from fully pointed down to up for 2 to 3 minutes every hour
  • Straight leg raising exercises to 45 degrees, 3 sets of 10, three times daily

You will be given a referral to a physiotherapist for post-operative supervised rehabilitation. This is to help you regain your movement and strength. You should see the physiotherapist within 4-6 days of leaving the hospital. Usually only 3-5 visits are required, with the physiotherapist teaching exercise routines that are appropriate for your age and activity level

This will depend on the nature of your work and activity level. Most patients return to office work 2 weeks after their operation but can work from home after 2 or 3 days. Some more physically demanding jobs may require longer off work.

Most patients are able to return to sporting activity within 2 to 6 weeks in a graduated fashion. Your knee condition and treatment plan will be discussed in detail with respect to your specific case.

Your recovery may be slower if there is more than one knee problem being treated.

You can get back to driving when you are comfortably walking unaided. You must have sufficient strength to control the foot pedals and be able to perform an emergency stop.

It is a good idea to check the terms of your car insurance to ensure your cover is valid, as some policies state that you must not drive for a specific time period after an operation.

In general terms, this is about 4 to 6 days from arthroscopy. Prolonged journeys are not recommended for at least 14 days from of surgery.

There is no universal agreement as to when it is safe to travel by plane after knee arthroscopic surgery.

I advise my patients not to fly for at least 2 weeks before and after straightforward arthroscopic surgery.

Short flights do not seem to be a problem. Long intercontinental flights are a potential problem as there is an increased incidence of spontaneous deep venous thrombosis.

The likelihood of developing postoperative leg blood clots depends on many different factors, including your general health, medical history, postoperative mobility and a number of risk factors (obesity, smoking, a history of DVT, etc.).

FAQs

Please call Angela my secretary on 02074869323 

No.  

We are happy to discuss options for you to self–fund. This will include fixed fee for different treatment options as required.  

If you are paying for your own treatment, then a referral is not necessary. The majority of insurers will require a GP referral before authorising a consultation, investigations or any treatment. Many of my referrals come from physiotherapists and some insurers will now accept that mode of referral. Please contact me if you are unsure! 

I will endeavor to see you as soon as possible and I will allow ample time to discuss your symptoms and organise investigations as needed. These can often be carried out on the same day. 

I appreciate that face to face appointments at this time are more challenging and I am happy and experienced in carrying out video consultations if preferred. This can reduce travel and exposure in public if you are shielding or concerned. 

 

I appreciate that face to face appointments at this time are more challenging and I am happy and experienced in carrying out these initial consultations virtually if that is your preferred option. 

 

I work in several hospital and clinic sites. There are new higher standards of hygiene and infection control in all these facilities.  

To minimise the risk of infection, it will be necessary to follow proven guidelines: on arrival for face-to-face appointments or surgery you will be questioned about symptoms of Covid and recent exposure to people who are ill. You will have a temperature check and will be required to wear a mask. Sensible hand sanitisation and keeping your distance in the clinic or hospital is required.  

For surgical treatments more formal Covid testing is carried out in the preceding days and it is sensible to self-isolate to avoid exposure to infection in the pre-surgery period. Surgery is carried out through a “Green pathway” where all staff and patients are screened, and movement is controlled to minimise risk of infection. You will receive all information specific to your journey to help you understand these procedures. 

I am recognised by all the major insurance companies. There are a large number of policies that cover differing aspects of care and I would recommend you ensure that you understand what is and is not covered under your particular policy. 

I will inform you of all fees in advance of treatment. All my fees will be transparent to you at all stages and Angela will be happy to discuss any questions you may have.  

Whether or not you have private medical insurance my contract is with you and you are ultimately responsible for any fees incurred for consultations, investigations and surgery.   

 

I will schedule a time to talk to you about your scan results as soon as possible after your initial consultation. This gives you the reassurance of knowing when I will contact you and allows you to ask any questions that you have at that time.  

If there is further discussion of treatment required, I will arrange a face to face or virtual follow up appointment to go through the details of your results and options to formulate your best course for recovery. 

I increasingly see patients for this reason. I request that you notify me if you are seeking a second opinion so that an appropriate time and access to imaging can be arranged. 

Talk To An Expert Now

Talk To An Expert Now

If you’re somebody who’s struggling at the moment with pain or being active, please do book in to see me.