Concierge orthopaedic surgery · London
Knee arthroscopy, the classic keyhole knee procedure — meniscal repair, ACL reconstruction and cartilage restoration.
Knee arthroscopy is a day-case keyhole procedure to inspect and treat the knee joint. Modern indications: meniscal tears (repair vs partial meniscectomy), ACL reconstruction, cartilage restoration (microfracture, MACI) and loose bodies.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a knee-preservation surgeon — a subspecialist orthopaedic consultant who does knee arthroscopy weekly, not occasionally.
- 02
Modern rehab pathway
Sports-medicine physiotherapy from day one — the surgery is only half the answer.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
Knee arthroscopy at a glance.
The six things worth knowing before you read anything else on this page.
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Definition
Day-case keyhole surgery of the knee joint using small portals and an arthroscope.
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Local, regional or general anaesthesia
Anaesthetic tailored to the procedure and the patient — LA, spinal or GA.
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2–3 small incisions
Two or three portals for the camera and instruments — no open joint exposure.
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Enables meniscal repair, ACL reconstruction, cartilage repair
Modern indications span the full spectrum of intra-articular knee pathology.
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Rapid return to daily activity in 1–2 weeks
Most patients are back to a desk job within 1–2 weeks; sport takes longer.
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Structured rehab pathway
The surgery is half the answer — physiotherapy from day one drives the outcome.
Indicative pricing
What a private knee arthroscopy costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner hospitals. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A standard meniscal repair in our network: £4,500–£7,500, as a day-case.
| Item | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant knee-subspecialist opinion | £250–£450 | 45 min | Same visit |
| MRI knee | £450–£850 | 30 min | 24–48 hrs |
| Diagnostic knee arthroscopy | £3,500–£5,500 | 30–45 min | Day-case |
| Meniscal repair or partial meniscectomy | £4,500–£7,500 | 45–75 min | Day-case |
| ACL reconstruction (hamstring / patella / quads graft) | £8,500–£13,000 | 90–120 min | Day-case |
| Cartilage repair (microfracture / MACI) | £6,500–£14,000 | 60–120 min | Day-case |
| Structured post-op rehab package (12 wks) | £1,200–£2,400 | Programme | Weekly |
Prices vary by hospital, complexity, implants used and whether cartilage repair or graft reconstruction is required. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Knee arthroscopy is only as good as who does it — and who selects for it.
Two things go wrong: the wrong patient (an arthritic knee), or a general orthopaedic surgeon operating occasionally. We route to a knee subspecialist, and we say no when arthroscopy isn’t the right operation.
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Locked knee after a twist?
Classic meniscal or ACL injury — MRI first, then a subspecialist opinion.
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Meniscal tear on MRI?
We match you to a surgeon who repairs the meniscus where it can be saved.
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Told you need a knee replacement?
If the joint is already arthritic, arthroscopy won’t help — we will tell you so.
The pathway
From first consultation to same-day discharge — what happens, in order.
A single surgical team from consultation to op note, with a rehab pathway that starts within days.
Phase 1 · Before surgery
Consult, MRI, pre-op
Phase 2 · Day of surgery
LA / regional / GA · 30–90 minutes
Phase 3 · After
Discharge same day
- 01
Before
Orthopaedic surgical consultation
A knee-subspecialist takes the history, examines the knee, and confirms whether arthroscopy is the right route.
- 02
Before
MRI knee for planning
High-resolution MRI to characterise meniscal, ligamentous and chondral pathology and plan the operation.
- 03
Before
Pre-op assessment
Bloods, ECG if indicated, anaesthetic review and consent — usually one clinic visit.
- 04
Before
Fast 6 hours pre-op
Clear fluids up to 2 hours, food stopped 6 hours before your slot.
- 05
Day of surgery
Regional or general anaesthesia
Anaesthetic chosen with you — LA, regional (spinal / femoral block) or general, depending on the procedure.
- 06
Day of surgery
Arthroscopic procedure (30–90 min)
Portals placed, joint inspected, and the meniscal, ligamentous, chondral or bony pathology addressed.
- 07
After
Discharge same day with crutches
Home the same day on crutches, with a structured rehab plan and a physiotherapy appointment booked in.
Consult to surgery: 2–6 weeks. Return to daily activity: 1–2 weeks.
What it treats
When knee arthroscopy is the right operation.
Knee arthroscopy answers a specific question — is the pain coming from a mechanical, intra-articular problem in an otherwise well-preserved joint? These are the presentations we see most.
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Meniscal repair (peripheral tears)
Suture repair of vascular-zone tears — preserves the meniscus and long-term joint health.
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Partial meniscectomy (irreparable tears)
Selective removal of unstable, irreparable meniscal tissue where repair is not viable.
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ACL reconstruction (hamstring / patella tendon / quadriceps graft)
Graft-based reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using autograft tissue.
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Chondral debridement
Arthroscopic tidying of unstable cartilage flaps to reduce mechanical symptoms.
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Microfracture / MACI for cartilage defects
Marrow-stimulation or matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation for focal chondral defects.
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Loose body removal
Cartilage or bone fragments removed arthroscopically to unlock the joint.
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Synovectomy
Inflamed synovium biopsied or debrided when it is the pain generator.
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Red flag: intra-op vascular or nerve injury — urgent surgical review
New neurology or vascular compromise after surgery is a same-day surgical review — not a wait-and-see.
Treatment options
What comes next — rehab, revision and the alternatives.
The rehab pathway, return-to-sport testing, and the non-arthroscopic operations worth knowing.
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Structured physiotherapy
A staged 12-week programme from day one — passive movement early, loaded work later.
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Bracing during rehab
Hinged knee brace to protect graft or repair through the early rehab phase.
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Return-to-sport testing (isokinetic + hop tests)
Objective functional testing before green-lighting return to competitive sport.
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Sports-medicine follow-up
Sports-physician review to trouble-shoot rehab plateaus and optimise return-to-play.
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Revision arthroscopy for persistent symptoms
Repeat arthroscopy where the first operation has not settled the mechanical problem.
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High tibial osteotomy for malalignment
Realignment osteotomy for varus knees with medial-compartment overload.
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Partial or total knee replacement (advanced OA)
When cartilage loss is diffuse, arthroplasty — not arthroscopy — is the right operation.
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Multi-disciplinary team review
Complex or revision cases discussed jointly with radiology, sports medicine and physiotherapy.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of surgeons, we picked them.
Partners across central London knee-preservation practice. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every surgeon in our network.
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Consultant knee-preservation surgeons doing arthroscopy as a subspecialist practice
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MRI knee reported by a musculoskeletal radiologist
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Day-case surgical unit with modern arthroscopic tower and instrumentation
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Sports-medicine physiotherapy integrated from week one
Safety and eligibility
A day-case operation, with real but uncommon risks.
Knee arthroscopy is well-tolerated when patient selection is right. The practical points are patient selection, tourniquet time, and a realistic rehab plan.
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Day-case procedure
Home the same day for the majority of patients, on crutches with a rehab plan.
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Anaesthetic tailored to procedure
LA, spinal or GA — chosen with you and the anaesthetist on the day.
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Not for advanced arthritis
Arthroscopy in an already-arthritic knee is a common source of poor outcomes — we will say so.
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DVT prophylaxis
Mechanical and chemical prophylaxis where indicated, with early mobilisation.
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Crutches for 1–2 weeks
Protected weight-bearing on crutches for the first 1–2 weeks in most cases.
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Sports-medicine physio
Rehab starts within days — passive movement early, loaded work later.
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Return to sport 6–9 months (ACL)
Realistic return-to-sport timeline after ACL reconstruction is months, not weeks.
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Peroneal-nerve caution
Positioning is planned to protect the common peroneal nerve — we monitor for it.
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Bring prior MRI and reports
Previous imaging and physio notes materially sharpen the operative plan.
Red flags and known complications
- Post-op infection
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Peroneal-nerve injury
- Failed ACL reconstruction
- Chronic post-arthroscopy pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Missed lateral meniscal root tear
- Recurrent instability
- Progressive knee OA
Your op note
The operative note can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever was found, the note keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The op note is written for your GP and physio, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and side
Your details, the side operated on, and the confirmed intra-articular pathology.
- 02 Technique
Portals, tourniquet, findings
Portal placement, tourniquet time, and compartment-by-compartment intra-articular findings.
- 03 Procedure
What was done, and why
Meniscal repair, partial meniscectomy, ACL reconstruction, cartilage repair — with rationale.
- 04 Plan
Weight-bearing, rehab, follow-up
Post-op restrictions, the rehab milestones and when to see the surgeon and physio again.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and hospital; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about knee arthroscopy.
Quick answers on candidacy, recovery, risks, and when a knee replacement is the better operation.
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What is knee arthroscopy?
Day-case keyhole surgery of the knee joint. Two or three small portals allow a camera and instruments into the joint to treat meniscal tears, ACL injuries, cartilage lesions and loose bodies — without opening the knee.
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Am I a candidate?
The best candidates have a confirmed mechanical, intra-articular problem on MRI — a meniscal tear, ACL rupture, chondral defect or loose body — in a knee with preserved joint space. Advanced osteoarthritis is not an indication.
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How long does it take?
Between 30 and 90 minutes depending on what is being repaired. Simple diagnostic or partial meniscectomy cases are short; ACL reconstruction and cartilage repair are longer.
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What is the recovery?
Crutches for 1–2 weeks, physiotherapy from day one, back to a desk job within 1–2 weeks. Return to running is usually around 3 months for meniscal surgery; ACL reconstruction takes 6–9 months to return to sport.
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What are the risks?
Uncommon but real: post-op infection, DVT, peroneal-nerve injury from positioning, iatrogenic cartilage damage, failed repair or graft, chronic post-arthroscopy pain and complex regional pain syndrome.
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When is a knee replacement the better option?
When the joint space is already narrowed on X-ray, when there is diffuse cartilage loss on MRI, or when the patient is older with generalised osteoarthritis — a partial or total knee replacement gives better and more durable results than arthroscopy.
Sources
What this page is built on.
- British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK).
- NICE. Musculoskeletal conditions — guidance.
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM).
- European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA).
Last reviewed 2026-07-30. Next review 2027-07-30. Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, .
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In practice, in London
Why private knee arthroscopy moves differently in London
With knee arthroscopy, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. The wait for knee arthroscopy on the NHS depends heavily on where you live and how urgently the referral is graded. Central and West London private clinics can normally book within a week, with imaging or a procedure slot to follow shortly after. It’s worth being honest about the reason for going private: usually it’s time, not a fundamentally different test.
A private knee arthroscopy pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. The consultants we work with hold NHS posts alongside their private lists, which keeps the standards consistent across both settings. For knee arthroscopy specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
We’re careful about what a private pathway for knee arthroscopy can and can’t promise. It can compress a wait, put you in front of a subspecialist quickly, and get a proper report in your hands within a week. It can’t rewrite what the imaging or the bloods say. Setting that expectation up front tends to make the whole experience less stressful.