Knee arthroscopy – yes or no?

Do you feel ongoing knee pain and restricted movement without an obvious cause like a fall or knee injury? These could be the first signs of osteoarthritis – a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the knee joint.

One option with osteoarthritis is to have a knee arthroscopy. This procedure is a form of keyhole knee surgery. An instrument called an arthroscope is inserted through small incisions. The aim of the operation is to flush out loose pieces of cartilage or to smooth rough surfaces of the cartilage in the knee joint. Parts of the meniscus may also be removed.

There are no definitive statements available on the risks involved in having a knee arthroscopy. It is known, however, that long-term benefits in relation to pain and mobility are negligible. The alternative is to lose weight, strengthen the knee muscles and treat it with anti-inflammatory medication.

The Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the University of Potsdam has summarised the potential benefits and adverse effects of knee arthroscopies based on scientific studies:

Does the pain improve after having the operation?

If you compare 100 people who had the operation with 100 people who were not operated on, 79 of the former and 67 of the latter reported a minimal reduction in pain after three months. After 12 to 24 months, however, there was no difference between the two groups.

Is mobility improved by having the surgery?

65 out of 100 people who had the operation reported at least a slight improvement in mobility after three months. In contrast, 52 out of 100 people who were not operated on reported a slight improvement in mobility. Here, too, there was no longer any difference between the two groups after 12 to 24 months.

What risks are involved with having a knee arthroscopy?

A knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure and therefore also has some inherent risks. Although scientists cannot name any figures owing to the insufficient amount of available evidence, you still have to expect possible complications like thrombosis, infections and nerve damage.