Arthroscopy is keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat problems within the knee joint.

Arthroscopy equipment is small, so only small cuts in the skin are needed.

This has the advantage of less pain after the operation, faster healing time, and lower risk of infection.

The best outcomes for this surgery are typically seen when the patient reports a clear history of twisting or injuring the knee, which triggered the symptoms.

Key indicators include:

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• Primary complaints of locking and giving way (mechanical symptoms) rather than constant pain.

• Pain localised to the inner or outer aspect of the knee, sometimes felt deep within or all over the knee.

• Pain and acute catching or locking worsen when walking on uneven surfaces or twisting the knee. 

• Swelling and inflammation in the knee may be present initially when symptoms begin.

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Patients are often normally active and sporty, with no X-ray evidence of arthritis in the knee.

The procedure is used to treat a number of conditions, including tears of the cartilage, (meniscus), removing fragments of loose bone or cartilage, drilling of bone to promote healing of cartilage and treatment of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.

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The most common reason for knee arthroscopy surgery done by Mr Mahaluxmivala is a torn meniscus (shock absorbing cartilage) of the knee. Both the cartilage on the inside and outside of the knee can be torn and both can be suitable for knee arthroscopy.

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Mr Mahaluxmivala explains however that this is one of the operations where “patient selection” is vital for this surgery to have a successful outcome. Insurance companies have strict criteria for allowing this surgery to be performed and this is done to make sure unnecessary surgeries do not occur.

Diagnosis involves a detailed history and thorough examination. It is confirmed with:

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• An X-ray of the knee, including three specialised views, such as standing views.

• An MRI scan to detect cartilage tears, ligament issues, or arthritis not visible on X-rays.

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Mr. Mahaluxmivala will review the patient's X-ray and MRI images during the consultation, explaining the issues and the need for knee arthroscopy.