Is knee arthroscopy major surgery?

Why it is called keyhole surgery

In an arthroscopy the surgeon does not open the knee. A camera about the width of a pencil goes in through a small cut beside the kneecap, and fine instruments go in through one or two more. Each incision is roughly a centimetre long. Because the skin, muscle and joint capsule are disturbed so little, pain after surgery is usually moderate and the scars fade well.

That is why many patients and doctors describe arthroscopy as minor surgery. It is a fair description for the procedure itself, but not always for the recovery.

The size of the operation depends on what is done inside

The same keyhole approach is used for very different jobs, and the recovery follows the job, not the incisions.

• Trimming a small meniscus tear or removing a loose body: usually walking the same day and back at a desk within about a week
• Repairing a meniscus with stitches: often several weeks on crutches or in a brace so the repair can heal
• Reconstructing a ligament such as the ACL: a structured rehabilitation lasting many months

So when someone asks whether their arthroscopy is major, the more useful question is which procedure is planned. Dr. Gelber explains this before surgery so you can plan work, family and travel.

Anaesthesia and the hospital stay

Arthroscopy is done under general anaesthesia or a spinal anaesthetic, sometimes with a nerve block for comfort afterwards. The anaesthetist at Aman Hospital discusses the options with you, including any heart, lung or diabetes concerns.

Most patients go home a few hours later once they are eating, drinking and walking safely. An overnight stay is sometimes advised after longer procedures, or if pain control or mobility needs more time.

Treat it with respect

Even a small arthroscopy carries the general risks of any operation, including infection, blood clots and stiffness, although serious problems are uncommon. Following the wound care, exercises and activity advice you are given matters as much as the surgery itself. If you are unsure whether an arthroscopy is right for your knee, a consultation in Doha with examination and imaging is the place to start.