Most surgical knee procedures can be performed using arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive technique that involves introducing a rigid endoscope, called an arthroscope, into the joint. The endoscope is connected to a camera and light source to enable the surgeon to see the inside of your knee on a screen.
One or two further small incisions are made to enable the surgeon to introduce the instruments into your knee to perform the procedure.
Some surgical procedures cannot be performed using arthroscopic surgery and must be carried out using open surgery techniques (involving a larger incision).
Your surgeon will suggest the most suitable treatment for your circumstances, whether surgical or not:
Non-surgical
- Physiotherapy
- Infiltrations: corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, PRP (platelet rich plasma)
Surgical
- Ligament reconstruction (anterior/posterior cruciate ligaments, collateral ligaments) : repair or reconstruction of the ligaments using autotransplantation
- Meniscal suture / meniscectomy : repair of the meniscus or minimal resection of part of your meniscus using arthroscopic surgery
- Stabilisation of the patella : medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction, medialisation/distalisation of the anterior tibial tuberosity, trochleoplasty
- Cartilage treatment : microfractures, osteochondral graft
- Osteotomy : correction of the alignment of the leg
- Total knee replacement : replacement of the whole of your knee with prosthetic implants in the case of diffuse osteoarthritis
- Unicompartmental knee prosthesis (partial knee replacement) : replacement of just one compartment of the knee with a prosthetic implant in the case of localised osteoarthritis
