When we have agreed that you are suitable for an arthroscopy, you will be provided with verbal and printed information. Further information can be found on this website. Your surgeon will consent you for the surgery, and in most instances be able to give you the date of your surgery. Investigations will be arranged as necessary. These may include:

Adequate up-to-date X-rays of the knee. We may also ask for a chest X-ray, which may be required by the anaesthetist.

Routine blood tests include a blood count to exclude anaemia and adequate platelets, and electrolytes. Further blood test may be requested depending on the presence of other medical problems.

A tracing of the heart is usually done, again for anaesthetic safety. Further cardiology tests may be required if you have heart issues.

Surgeons have anaesthetists that they usually work with.

The anaesthetist will contact you by phone before the surgery, to discuss the anaesthetic. Sometimes they will arrange to see you if there are particular worries. Occasionally, we will arrange for you to see another specialist in order to optimise your medical condition before the surgery.

Read more about Anaesthesia here.

You will be contacted by the hospital admissions to confirm your surgery date and to finalise a time for your arrival. Before admission you will need to arrange someone to collect you after your surgery, and to have someone at home with you, at least, for the first day.

If you require special help at home, then this needs to be fully arranged before you come into hospital. Please ask if you have any questions regarding this.

Orthopaedics WA admit nearly all my patients on the day of surgery to the day case unit. The nursing staff will prepare you for theatre. The anaesthetist will see you on the ward or in the holding bay in theatre. Pre medications are not prescribed routinely, but you can discuss this with the anaesthetist. Your surgeon will usually see you in the holding bay, where all the documentation will be double checked, and your operative side will be marked.

You will next be taken through to the operating room, given your anaesthetic. A routine arthroscopy takes about 15 minutes to perform. The skin is closed with sticky strips a dressing and a bandage. We will usually fill the knee with local anaesthetic to reduce pain.

When you are ready for discharge, you will be given spare dressings for your wound and medications to take home, including those for pain relief. See Pain management after discharge.

The bulky outer dressing is to be removed 48 hours after surgery and the inner dressings are to be left for 7 days and then removed. The Steri-Strips are to be left on and they will fall off in the shower.

The bulky dressing is not waterproof so you will be given a plastic bag to cover your knee when showering but the inner dressings are waterproof so it is safe to shower without covering them.

Swelling is common but will resolve, use ice therapy up to every 4 hours, 20 minutes at a time. If there is increasing swelling or calf pain please see your doctor.

Any sutures will be dissolving so they do not need to be removed.

Pain is common for several days and you will be given pain relief on discharge, and you may need to get a further prescription.

Bleeding – there will be some blood on the dressing. Rest the leg and keep the leg elevated.

Clear discharge and oozing can sometimes last up to 2–3 weeks. If this is discoloured or the wound is inflamed please see your doctor or contact the office.

Bruising can occur after an arthroscopy, but this will resolve over several days.

Orthopaedics WA will contact you regarding your follow up appointment, which will be between 2–4 weeks.

We will assess if any changes need to be made to your medications before admission. If you are on a single anticoagulant such as aspirin, for a medical condition, then we will usually continue with this. If you are on two anticoagulants, or warfarin, then they need to be stopped five days before surgery. Sometimes an alternative medication will need to be used in this period.

Stopping smoking 6 weeks before the operation will greatly reduce your risks of chest complications, infection, and poor wound healing, as well as benefit your long-term health.

Exercise, weight loss and healthy eating will all improve your outcome.

Overnight toiletries, all X-rays and other investigations, all medications, non-slip flat shoes.

Also see the Related links on this page.