What is Arthroscopic Surgery?

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat problems inside your joints. Instead of making large cuts, your doctor uses small incisions—usually just 0.5 to 1 cm—to insert a thin camera (called an arthroscope) and special instruments into the joint.

The arthroscope projects real-time images onto a screen, allowing the surgeon to see inside the joint and carry out the procedure with great accuracy. This technique is commonly used for joints like the knee, shoulder, ankle, elbow, and hip, but knee and shoulder arthroscopies are the most frequently performed.

Why is Arthroscopic Surgery Done?

Arthroscopy helps in both diagnosing joint problems and treating them. If you're experiencing pain, swelling, stiffness, or instability that doesn’t get better with medication or physiotherapy, your doctor might recommend an arthroscopic procedure.

Some common conditions treated with arthroscopy include:

🦵 Knee Arthroscopy:

Torn meniscus (cartilage)
ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) reconstruction
Removal of loose fragments of bone or cartilage
Treating inflamed joint lining (synovitis)
Knee cap (patella) problems

💪 Shoulder Arthroscopy:

Rotator cuff tears
Recurrent shoulder dislocation
Shoulder impingement syndrome
Labral (cartilage) tears
Frozen shoulder (in select cases)

What Happens During the Procedure?

Before surgery: You’ll receive anesthesia—either general or regional depending on your condition.
Small incisions are made near the joint.
A tiny camera is inserted to view the inside of the joint.
Surgical tools are inserted through other small incisions to repair or remove damaged tissue.
Once the work is done, the incisions are closed with stitches or small bandages.

The whole procedure usually takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on what needs to be done.

What are the Benefits of Arthroscopic Surgery?

✅ Smaller incisions mean less pain and scarring
✅ Faster recovery time compared to open surgery
✅ Lower risk of infection
✅ Often performed as a day-care procedure (you can go home the same day)

What is the Recovery Like?

Recovery varies depending on the type of surgery, but in general:

Most patients can start gentle movement and physiotherapy within a few days
You may need to use a brace or sling temporarily
Full return to daily activities can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks
Sports or intense physical activities might take 2 to 6 months

Physiotherapy is a key part of recovery and helps restore strength, mobility, and flexibility.

Is Arthroscopic Surgery Safe?

Yes. Arthroscopy is a very safe and commonly performed procedure, especially when done by an experienced orthopaedic surgeon. Like any surgery, it carries minor risks such as infection, bleeding, or stiffness, but these are rare and usually manageable.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been struggling with joint pain—especially in the knee or shoulder—and conservative treatments haven’t worked, arthroscopic surgery could be the solution to help you regain mobility and live pain-free.

As a surgeon who performs arthroscopy regularly, I have seen first-hand how effective this approach can be in helping patients return to their normal lives—with less pain, less downtime, and better outcomes.