Knee arthroscopy surgery at The Vale Hospital

Why choose Nuffield Health The Vale Hospital for your knee arthroscopy surgery?

At The Vale Hospital, our experienced knee specialists excel in lower limb diagnostic surgery, including keyhole knee arthroscopy. All of our orthopaedic surgeons are renowned throughout Wales for their impressive joint diagnosis accuracy and repair. They are fully supported by our attentive matron-led nursing team, who are dedicated to ensuring your comfort and care whilst staying with us.

To help aid your rehabilitation after treatment, our on-site hospital physiotherapy team will work alongside your chosen consultant to help get you back to your feet. Our expert physiotherapists are all trained in orthopaedic aftercare and have obtained experience helping patients with lower limb joint rehabilitation. If you'd prefer, you can choose to continue your physiotherapy aftercare at our Cardiff Bay Hospital instead.

How to book a private consultation at Nuffield Health Cardiff & Vale Hospitals

If you are suffering from knee pain and want to discuss your treatment options with one of our consultants in either Cardiff or Vale, you will need to book a private consultation via our dedicated hospital enquiry team on 02920 009784.

Please let the enquiry handler know if you have had any recent X-rays or scans when booking your consultation, as there will be additional charges for any diagnostic imaging required.

Our 2 hospital locations in South Wales allow you to shape your own knee treatment

Knee arthroscopy surgery is performed at our Vale Hospital, however patients have the flexibility to decide where their initial consultation takes place.

As well as the Vale Hospital, our hip consultants operate out of Nuffield Health Cardiff Bay Hospital for initial consultations and all diagnostic imaging.

Subsequently, you can choose which of our two locations you want to undertake your post surgery physiotherapy and aftercare with.

What happens during a knee arthroscopy?

• Knee arthroscopy is usually performed under general anaesthetic
• A knee arthroscopy operation normally takes between 1/2 an hour and 3/4 of an hour
• Your surgeon at The Vale will make 2 or 3 small incisions and then insert a tiny camera to examine the inside of your knee joint
• Your surgeon will wash out any loose material caused by wear of the joint surfaces
• It is usually possible for your surgeon to trim or repair a torn cartilage without needing to make a larger cut.

After your keyhole knee surgery in South Wales

• Once your operation is over, you’ll be taken to the recovery room where you will come around from the anaesthetic
• Your wounds, blood pressure and pulse will be carefully monitored
• Most patients are able to go home the same day as the operation
• You won’t be able to drive, so you will need someone to come and take you home from the hospital once you have been discharged
• Alternatively, ask reception to book a taxi.

How soon will I recover from knee arthroscopy?

• Depending on the level of repair carried out the arthroscopy procedure generally causes very little tissue damage
• Most patients recover quickly
• Your knee will be swollen and sore for the first week following your arthroscopy
• Most patients return to normal activity levels within 2 - 3 weeks
• Please discuss any concerns regarding your recovery with your knee surgeon.

Most people make a good recovery and return to normal activities following knee arthroscopy. However as with any surgery there can be complications:

• Damage to the nerves around the knee
• Developing a lump under the wounds
• Severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of the knee.