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Private knee arthroscopy in London, by a consultant knee surgeon.

Keyhole knee surgery by a BASK- or BOA-registered specialist - meniscal repair, ACL reconstruction, chondroplasty and more, with the honest conversation about when a scope is not the right answer.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private knee arthroscopy costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£3,000–£6,000, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
Diagnostic arthroscopy + minor procedure £3,000–£4,500
Partial meniscectomy £3,500–£5,500
Meniscal repair (all-inside sutures) £4,500–£6,500
Chondroplasty / microfracture £3,500–£5,500
ACL reconstruction (hamstring or BPTB) £5,500–£8,000
Consultation only £220–£400

Prices vary by clinic, by which knee surgeon does the case, by the anaesthetic chosen, and by whether ligament work or a graft is added on the day. NHS care via a specialist knee surgeon is available too.

The problem

The right surgeon, the right procedure - and sometimes, no procedure.

Knee arthroscopy is one of the most over-booked procedures in private orthopaedics. NICE NG226 (2022) is clear that a scope for isolated degenerative meniscal tears in osteoarthritis is not the answer. We say so before you commit.

  • A knee that locks or gives way?

    Real mechanical symptoms - locking, catching, giving way - are what a scope is for. We help you tell the difference from generic knee pain.

  • A degenerative tear on MRI?

    A degenerative meniscal tear in mild-to-moderate OA is usually better managed with physiotherapy - NICE NG226. We will say so honestly.

  • A young athlete after a twist?

    An acute repairable meniscal tear or ACL rupture in a young or active knee deserves a fast, expert opinion - repair over resection wherever possible.

When it helps

When a knee arthroscopy is the right step.

The situations where a scope helps - and the ones where the evidence says physiotherapy first, not a needle and a scalpel.

  • Locked knee from a meniscal tear

    A bucket-handle or displaced tear that mechanically blocks the joint - a clear indication for urgent arthroscopy.

  • Repairable meniscal tear in a young knee

    An acute traumatic peripheral tear in a young or active patient - repaired with sutures, not resected. Repair is preferred wherever possible.

  • ACL rupture with instability

    A ruptured anterior cruciate with giving way on pivoting sport - reconstruction with hamstring or BPTB graft, sometimes with InternalBrace augmentation.

  • Focal chondral defect

    A discrete cartilage defect (Outerbridge grade II–III) causing catching or pain - chondroplasty, microfracture, or a matrix procedure such as MACI.

  • Loose body in the joint

    A cartilage or bony fragment causing intermittent locking - removed via a keyhole portal.

  • Osteochondritis dissecans

    An unstable osteochondral fragment in a young knee - fixed rather than removed where possible.

  • Synovial disease

    PVNS, rheumatoid synovitis or synovial chondromatosis - arthroscopic synovectomy for targeted disease.

  • Not for isolated OA

    A knee with osteoarthritis but no mechanical locking is not helped by a scope - NICE NG226 recommends physiotherapy, not surgery.

Procedure options

Arthroscopy is not one operation - it is many.

What each option on the table actually involves - and which fits which knee.

  • Meniscal repair

    Inside-out, outside-in or all-inside sutures for an acute peripheral tear in a young, active knee. Preferred over meniscectomy wherever possible.

  • Partial meniscectomy

    Reserved for symptomatic unstable tears that cannot be repaired. Not for isolated degenerative tears in osteoarthritis - physio first, per NICE NG226.

  • ACL reconstruction

    Hamstring or BPTB graft, sometimes with InternalBrace augmentation. See our dedicated knee-preservation-surgery page for detail.

  • Chondroplasty

    Debridement of a focal Outerbridge grade II–III cartilage defect to smooth an unstable edge and settle mechanical symptoms.

  • Microfracture / MACI

    Marrow stimulation for a focal chondral defect; matrix-associated chondrocyte implantation (NICE TA477) is an option for larger defects in the right patient.

  • Loose body removal

    A quick keyhole procedure to remove a cartilage or bony fragment that is catching in the joint.

  • Synovectomy

    Arthroscopic clearance of diseased synovium - PVNS, rheumatoid arthritis, synovial chondromatosis.

  • OCD fixation, plica excision, release

    Osteochondritis dissecans fixation, plica excision, lateral release for maltracking, or anterior interval release for arthrofibrosis where indicated.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Knee arthroscopy is a common, safe day-case procedure. The things worth planning are the anaesthetic, the weight-bearing plan, and the physio protocol that determines the outcome.

  • Anaesthetic: GA plus a nerve block

    A general anaesthetic with an adductor canal block is the modern default - good pain control without weakening the quadriceps, so you can walk safely on the same day.

  • DVT prophylaxis for longer procedures

    A short course of low-molecular-weight heparin is routine for ligament reconstruction and other extended cases. Simple arthroscopies may not need it - the team decides.

  • Weight-bearing depends on the procedure

    Full weight-bearing straight away for a partial meniscectomy or loose body removal. Partial weight-bearing for one to two weeks after a repair, chondroplasty, microfracture or ACL reconstruction.

  • Physio from day one

    Quadriceps activation, range of motion and gradual strengthening start the day of surgery. The single biggest determinant of a good outcome after any knee scope.

  • Driving in one to two weeks

    Once you can perform an emergency stop safely - usually one to two weeks for a right knee under LA/GA, sometimes longer after ligament work.

  • Sport and return-to-play windows

    Cycling from four to six weeks, running from three to four months, contact or pivoting sport from four to six months - procedure-specific, and never rushed.

  • Risks are small but real

    Infection under 1%, iatrogenic nerve injury (usually sural or saphenous, usually recovers), tourniquet-related transient palsy, incomplete repair with re-tear, arthrofibrosis, CRPS in 2–5%, and rarely open conversion.

  • The long view

    A well-selected scope helps 70–90% of patients. ACL reconstruction has 90–95% five-year success for return to sport with modern grafts and protocols. Underlying osteoarthritis can still progress over 10–20 years.

  • Red flags

    Fever, a hot swollen calf, spreading redness or a knee that will not bend after surgery are not normal - call the clinic or A&E the same day.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever technique was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant knee surgeon reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and diagnostic findings

    Why the procedure was done, and what the systematic diagnostic examination showed in each compartment - medial, lateral, patellofemoral, notch.

  2. 02 Technique

    Portals, anaesthetic and technique

    Which portals were used, the anaesthetic and block, and the specific therapeutic step performed - repair pattern, resection extent, graft choice.

  3. 03 Findings

    Cartilage, ligaments and any extras

    Notes on cartilage grade in each compartment, ligament integrity, any incidental synovial disease, and whether extra work was done on the day.

  4. 04 Impression

    Weight-bearing, physio and return-to-play

    Read this first: your weight-bearing status, the physio protocol, expected milestones, and when to return to driving, cycling, running and sport.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for knee arthroscopy varies by insurer and by indication - usually funded when medically indicated.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about knee arthroscopy.

Quick answers on repair vs meniscectomy, ACL reconstruction, cost, recovery and when a scope is not the right answer.

  • What is a knee arthroscopy?

    A keyhole knee operation performed through two or three small portals. A fibre-optic camera and fine instruments are used to look inside the joint and to treat what is found - meniscal tears, ligament rupture, cartilage defects, loose bodies and synovial disease.

  • I have a meniscal tear on MRI and knee osteoarthritis - do I need a scope?

    Probably not. NICE NG226 (2022) is clear: for an isolated degenerative meniscal tear in mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis without true locking, evidence favours physiotherapy alone. A scope is reserved for genuine mechanical symptoms - a locked knee, a displaced bucket-handle tear or a fragment blocking movement.

  • Repair or partial meniscectomy - which is better?

    Repair whenever the tear pattern allows, particularly in young or active patients with an acute peripheral tear. Meniscal tissue does real work protecting the joint, so preserving it protects the knee long term. Meniscectomy is reserved for unstable tears that cannot be repaired.

  • How much does a private knee arthroscopy cost in London?

    Roughly £3,000–£4,500 for a diagnostic scope with a minor procedure, £3,500–£5,500 for a partial meniscectomy or chondroplasty, £4,500–£6,500 for a meniscal repair, and £5,500–£8,000 for ACL reconstruction.

  • How long is recovery after a knee arthroscopy?

    Procedure-specific. Partial meniscectomy and loose body removal: back to a desk job in a few days, driving in one to two weeks, sport in six to eight weeks. Repair, microfracture or ACL reconstruction: partial weight-bearing for one to two weeks, cycling at four to six weeks, running at three to four months, sport at four to six months.

  • Do I need a general anaesthetic?

    GA plus an adductor canal block is the modern default - it gives good pain control without weakening the quadriceps, so you can walk safely on the same day. Some patients have regional anaesthesia alone. The anaesthetist tailors the plan to you.

  • How much time off work do I need?

    Two to seven days for a straightforward partial meniscectomy or diagnostic scope with desk work. One to two weeks for a repair, chondroplasty or microfracture. Two to six weeks after ACL reconstruction, longer for manual jobs.

  • What are the risks?

    Infection under 1%, DVT or PE (low-molecular-weight heparin is used for extended procedures), iatrogenic nerve injury (usually sural or saphenous, usually recovers), tourniquet-related transient palsy, incomplete meniscal repair with re-tear, arthrofibrosis, complex regional pain syndrome in 2–5%, and rarely conversion to open surgery. Underlying osteoarthritis can still progress over 10–20 years to eventual arthroplasty.

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