Knee Arthroscopy is the treatment of choice for a variety of knee injuries and conditions. It is performed under general anaesthetic, through 2 small incisions at the front of the knee. The surgery is performed as a day case. Most knee arthroscopies are performed for meniscal damage which occur during sporting activities. Children can present with damage to a discoid lateral meniscus which has been formed abnormally. In later life, the meniscus can develop degenerative tears due to an abnormal shape of the meniscus.
Most meniscal injuries require partial meniscectomy, but the larger and more peripheral meniscal tears, particularly in childhood and adolescence should be repaired if possible.
Articular cartilage, which covers all of the bony surfaces of a joint, is also at risk of damage particularly in older patients. Chondroplasty (shaving or shrinkage of the injured area) can be performed arthroscopically.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is performed arthroscopically with another small incision to harvest the graft.
Osteochondritis dissecans can be managed by arthroscopic drilling in younger patients with intact articular cartilage.