Knee Arthroscopy in Melbourne Overview
Knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows orthopaedic surgeons to view the knee joint without making a large incision through the skin and other soft tissues. Arthroscopy is used to diagnose and treat a wide range of knee problems. During knee arthroscopy, your surgeon will insert a small camera, called an arthroscope, into your knee joint. The camera displays pictures on a video monitor, and your surgeon can use these images to guide miniature surgical instruments. Because the arthroscope and surgical instruments are small, we can use very small incisions, rather than a larger incision needed for open surgery. This results in less pain, less joint stiffness, and a shorter recovery time.

Your surgeon may recommend knee arthroscopy surgery if you have a painful condition that does not respond to nonsurgical treatment. Nonsurgical treatment includes rest, physical therapy, and medications or injections that can reduce inflammation. Knee arthroscopy surgery in Melbourne may relieve painful symptoms of many problems that damage the cartilage surfaces and other soft tissues surrounding the joint.

Common arthroscopic procedures for the knee include:

Torn meniscus surgery or removal
Reconstruction of a torn ligaments
Removal of inflamed synovial tissue
Trimming of damaged articular cartilage
Removal of loose fragments of bone or cartilage
Treatment of patella (kneecap) problems
Clearing/Removal of tight bands/scar tissue

Different types of Meniscal Tears and how they are managed.

Typical arthroscopic pictures demonstrating the inside of the knee, with a meniscal tear (red arrow), and the use of a shaver (blue arrow) to remove damaged meniscal tissue, leaving stable healthy meniscus (green arrow)­

If your meniscus tear is large and in good quality, then it may be able to be repaired.
Reasons for Knee Arthroscopy in Melbourne
Knee arthroscopy surgery can be used for three different purposes: to diagnose and find the cause of joint problems, to check on the health of your knee joints, or to repair joint damage. You might be recommended to a Melbourne knee clinic if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms and other measures have been unable to diagnose the problem:

Joint pain
Knee joints locking or giving way
Swelling or Bakers cyst
Stiffness
catching in the knee
Knee arthroscopy surgery is also used as a treatment method for injuries such as:

Damaged cartilage
Torn ligaments
Kneecap problems
Inflamed tissue
If you believe you could benefit from knee arthroscopy, consult with your GP who will be able to refer you to a knee arthroscopy surgeon in Melbourne. Read More

Preparing for Knee Arthroscopy Surgery in Melbourne
If you need to have knee arthroscopy surgery in Melbourne, there is some preparation to be done. Since this is not a big surgery like a total knee replacement, you may not always need to perform physiotherapy to prepare. However, you should make some precautions for your recovery:

Be aware that you will likely use crutches afterwards
If possible, try to ensure you won’t need to use stairs at home
Make sure you have someone to drive you home after surgery, as you will be unable to drive while recovering
Take some time off work
Knee Arthroscopy Surgery Recovery and Rehabilitation
After your knee arthroscopy surgery in Melbourne, you will be moved to the recovery room and you should be able to go home on the day of surgery. Be sure to have someone with you to drive you home and check on you that first evening. After surgery, you will feel some discomfort and swelling in your knee which will settle over a few days. This is a natural part of the healing process.

Your leg may swell after surgery, and you should keep your leg elevated as much as possible for the first few days after surgery.

Pain Relief
You will be discharged home on a combination of paracetamol(Panadol), and anti-inflammatory (Celebrex/Naproxen) and other breakthrough pain relief (Endone/Palexia). If your pain is not managed with these medications, other medications will be prescribed to keep you comfortable.

Dressings/Wounds
You will leave the hospital with a large bandage covering your knee. There are 2 small plastic dressings underneath this bandage covering your surgical sites. In 2 days you can unwrap the outer bandage to leave the inner dressings intact.

Keep your plastic dressings clean and dry. You can normally have a shower with the knee covered in a plastic bag.

Risks and Complications
The complication rate after arthroscopic surgery is very low. If complications occur, they are usually minor and are treated easily. Possible postoperative problems with knee arthroscopy include:

• Infection
• Blood clots
• Knee stiffness
• Accumulation of blood in the knee

If you are experiencing any of the below symptoms please contact us:

• Fever
• Heavy bleeding or ooze from the wound
• Increased swelling and redness around the surgery site
• Pain in the calf muscles or difficulty breathing

Should you have any concerns, please contact us at Victorian Bone and Joint Specialists on 03 5752 5020.

FAQs Surrounding Knee Arthroscopy Surgery
When can I walk after knee arthroscopy?

Full weight-bearing and walking is allowed immediately after surgery. We get all patients mobilising Day 1 after their operation on crutches. Most people will walk independently by one week postoperatively. Occasionally your surgeon will recommend partial weight bearing or brace use depending upon the arthroscopic procedure performed.

When can I drive after knee arthroscopy?

You should not drive for at least 48 hours after an anaesthetic. After 48 hours, your ability to drive will depend on the side you had your operation, left or right, the type of vehicle you drive, manual or automatic and what type of pain relief you are taking. It is generally reasonable to drive when you are confident with walking and can fully weight-bear on your affected side.

When can I work after knee arthroscopy?

Your return to work will vary depending on the procedure performed and type of work you are engaged in. Most people can return to office work within a week. More strenuous manual work may require you to take longer before returning to full duties.

When can I play sports after knee arthroscopy?

Low impact activities, such as cycling and swimming, can be commenced from week 2. High impact activities, such as running, or excessive twisting such as during tennis or golf will be guided at your post-operative visit.

How long will I take to heal after knee arthroscopy?

The wounds take 7-10 days to heal. Most patients improve dramatically in the first 2 weeks. Occasionally, there are periods where the knee may become sore and then settle again. This is part of the normal healing process.