Knee arthroscopy and meniscal surgery
Knee arthroscopy is keyhole surgery using a small camera. I use it to treat meniscal tears that cause locking or persistent symptoms, and I repair the meniscus where possible.
When can keyhole surgery help?
- A torn piece of meniscus that makes the knee lock or catch
- A tear from an injury that can be repaired, especially in younger and active people
- Symptoms from a tear that continue despite a good course of physiotherapy
When it is unlikely to help
Keyhole surgery does not treat knee arthritis, and national guidance advises against it for arthritis alone. For tears that come on gradually in middle age, physiotherapy is usually the first treatment, because good-quality trials show that surgery often adds little. I will tell you if I think surgery is unlikely to help you.
Repair or trimming?
The meniscus protects the knee, so I repair it where the tear is suitable. Repairs heal best in younger patients and in tears near the outer edge, which have a good blood supply. Where a tear cannot be repaired, I trim away the torn part (meniscal debridement) and keep as much healthy meniscus as possible.
Recovery
After trimming, most people walk the same day and return to desk work within 1 to 2 weeks. After a repair, recovery is longer, usually with a brace and limited bending for about 6 weeks, and a return to sport after 4 to 6 months.
Risks
Risks are low but include infection, blood clots, swelling, stiffness and nerve injury. Some meniscal repairs do not heal and need further surgery.
Costs and insurance
I am recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Vitality, Aetna and Healix. Please check your policy and ask your insurer for a pre-authorisation number before your first appointment. If you are paying for yourself, Nuffield Health Ipswich will give you a fixed-price package after your consultation. See fees and insurance.
Written and reviewed by Mr Krishna Boddu FRCS (Tr & Orth), consultant orthopaedic surgeon, GMC 5206961. Last reviewed: 1 November 2026.
Sources
- NICE guideline NG226: Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (2022)
- Siemieniuk RAC et al. Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears: a clinical practice guideline. BMJ 2017;357:j1982.
- Sihvonen R et al. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus sham surgery for a degenerative meniscal tear. N Engl J Med 2013;369:2515–24.
Book a consultation
I see patients at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital. You can book online, or contact my secretary, Daniela Capaldo, who can also help with insurance and self-pay questions.