Arthroscopy is performed using a special instrument called an arthroscope. Arthroscopy is used both to diagnose and treat certain knee problems. Before recommending knee arthroscopy, the doctor will usually take a complete history of what the symptoms are and how the injury happened. He or she will then do a physical examination and will order x-rays of the knee, or possibly both knees. After a review of all tests, the doctor may recommend knee arthroscopy.
Knee arthroscopy is performed either under general or local anesthesia.
With general anesthesia, the patient is asleep during the surgery, feels no pain and has no memory of the procedure. With local anesthesia, the patient will remain awake during the operation but will feel no pain. Knee arthroscopy is usually done on an outpatient basis at a surgery center, which means that the patient is allowed to return home the same day as the surgery. In patients who have heart problems, the procedure may be done at a hospital, and they may be kept overnight. If extensive surgery is planned, the procedure is usually done in a hospital and the patient is kept overnight.