Arthroscopy
What is Arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat joint problems by inserting a small camera (arthroscope) and instruments through tiny incisions. It’s commonly performed on joints like the knee, shoulder, hip, or ankle to address issues such as torn cartilage, ligament injuries, or inflammation. In India, arthroscopy is conducted in orthopedic departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is indicated for:
- Joint injuries or conditions:
- Knee: Meniscal tears (40–50% of cases), ACL tears (20–30%), cartilage damage.
- Shoulder: Rotator cuff tears, labral tears, impingement syndrome.
- Other joints: Hip (labral tears), ankle (ligament injuries), wrist (cartilage tears).
- Prevalence in India: 10–15% of adults over 40 experience joint issues needing intervention; higher in athletes and the elderly.
- Other indications:
- Diagnostic: Unexplained joint pain, swelling, or instability after imaging (e.g., MRI).
- Failed conservative treatment: Physical therapy, medications (e.g., 3–6 months without relief).
- Types:
- Diagnostic arthroscopy: To visualize joint (10–20% of cases).
- Therapeutic arthroscopy: To repair damage (e.g., meniscectomy, ACL reconstruction; 80–90% of cases).
- Associated treatments:
- Pre-op: Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., ibuprofen).
- Post-op: Physical therapy to restore joint function, pain management.
- Timing:
- Performed in adults (average age 20–60 years); elective, scheduled based on symptom severity; urgent for locked joints (e.g., meniscus tear causing knee locking).
The procedure aims to diagnose and treat joint issues with minimal tissue damage, offering faster recovery than open surgery, with high success rates for pain relief and functional improvement.
Why Do Arthroscopy Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh:
- Procedure Complexity: Diagnostic (₹50,000–₹80,000); therapeutic (e.g., meniscectomy, ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh); complex (e.g., ACL reconstruction, ₹1.5–2 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹1–2 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹20,000–₹50,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced orthopedic surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹10,000–₹20,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), imaging (₹5,000–₹10,000), physical therapy (₹5,000–₹10,000), medications (₹2,000–₹5,000).
- Insurance: Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider.
Arthroscopy Procedure
- Before Procedure Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Imaging: MRI or X-ray to identify pathology (e.g., meniscal tear, rotator cuff tear).
- Physical exam: Assess joint stability, range of motion, and pain (e.g., McMurray test for meniscus).
- Blood tests: Routine (e.g., CBC, clotting profile) to ensure surgical safety.
- Preparation: Fasting 6–8 hours (if under anesthesia); stop blood thinners (if safe); optimize joint condition.
- Consent: Risks, including infection, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Procedure Technique:
- Arthroscopy (Knee, Meniscal Repair):
- Performed under general, spinal, or local anesthesia (depending on joint), lasting 30–90 minutes.
- Process:
- Incisions: 2–3 small portals (0.5–1 cm) around knee.
- Arthroscope (4 mm camera) inserted; joint filled with saline to expand space and improve visualization.
- Inspection: Joint structures (e.g., meniscus, cartilage, ligaments) examined; damage confirmed.
- Repair: Instruments inserted via portals; torn meniscus trimmed (meniscectomy) or sutured (repair); ACL reconstructed using graft if needed.
- Closure: Portals closed with sutures or Steri-Strips; sterile dressing applied; no drains typically needed.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Arthroscope: Camera for visualization.
- Shaver: Removes damaged tissue.
- Suture anchors: For repairs (e.g., rotator cuff, labral tears).
- Arthroscopy (Knee, Meniscal Repair):
- After Procedure:
- Hospital stay: Same-day discharge (diagnostic or simple repairs); 1–2 days (complex repairs like ACL reconstruction).
- Care: Ice packs to reduce swelling; elevate joint; start physical therapy within 1–2 days.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 1–3 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., paracetamol, NSAIDs).
- Instructions: Avoid weight-bearing (if knee/ankle) for 1–2 weeks (crutches may be needed); no heavy lifting for 4–6 weeks.
Recovery After Arthroscopy
- Hospital Stay: Same-day discharge (simple); 1–2 days (complex).
- Post-Procedure Care:
- Pain: Mild to moderate for 1–3 days; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; light walking (knee) or arm use (shoulder) in 1–2 days; physical therapy to regain strength and range of motion.
- Incision: Small scars (0.5–1 cm) fade in 1–2 months.
- Joint function: Pain relief in 1–2 weeks; 80–90% report improved function in 6–12 weeks (simple repairs); 3–6 months (ACL reconstruction).
- Medications: Painkillers for 3–5 days; no long-term meds typically needed.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (check wounds), 1 month, and every 3 months (monitor recovery).
- Physical therapy: Weekly for 4–12 weeks; 90% return to sports in 6–9 months (ACL).
Most resume normal activities in 2–4 weeks (simple) or 3–6 months (complex); full recovery takes 1–3 months (simple) or 6–12 months (complex). Success rate: 80–90% symptom relief; 90–95% functional improvement; 5–10% re-injury rate at 5 years.
Risks and Complications
- Procedure Risks:
- Bleeding (1–2%): Inside joint (hemarthrosis); may resolve or need aspiration.
- Infection (0.5–1%): Joint infection; treated with antibiotics, rarely needs repeat surgery.
- Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to anesthesia; higher in elderly or comorbid patients.
- Post-Procedure:
- Stiffness (2–5%): If physical therapy delayed; improves with rehab.
- Nerve injury (1–2%): Temporary numbness; resolves in 1–3 months.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, 0.5–1%): Rare in arthroscopy; minimized by early mobility (links to your thrombectomy query).
- Cartilage damage (1–2%): From instruments; may lead to early arthritis.
- Long-Term:
- Recurrence (5–10%): Re-injury (e.g., meniscus retear); higher in athletes.
- Arthritis (5–10% at 10 years): If cartilage damaged; managed with lifestyle changes.
Report fever, severe swelling, redness, or inability to move joint promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for arthroscopy?
Joint injuries (e.g., meniscal tears, ACL tears) or conditions (e.g., impingement) causing pain, swelling, or instability.
Can I avoid arthroscopy?
Yes, if mild: Physical therapy, medications (50–70% success); surgery needed for structural damage or failed conservative treatment.
Is arthroscopy painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 1–3 days; managed with medication; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 1–2 weeks (simple); full recovery: 1–3 months (simple) or 6–12 months (complex); avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks.
Is arthroscopy covered by insurance in India?
Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe swelling, redness, or inability to move joint.
How effective is arthroscopy?
80–90% symptom relief; 90–95% functional improvement; 5–10% re-injury at 5 years.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Follow physical therapy, avoid high-impact activities (if advised), maintain healthy weight, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Arthroscopy is an effective, minimally invasive procedure for diagnosing and treating joint issues, offering quicker recovery and high success rates compared to open surgery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach treatment confidently. Consult an orthopedic surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Arthroscopy
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Ahmedabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ajmer |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Aligarh |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Allahabad |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Amritsar |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Aurangabad |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bangalore |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bareilly |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Belgaum |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhopal |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bikaner |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Chandigarh |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Chennai |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dehradun |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Delhi |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Durgapur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Faridabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Guntur |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gurgaon |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Guwahati |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gwalior |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Hyderabad |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Indore |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jabalpur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Jaipur |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jamshedpur |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jodhpur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Kanpur |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Kochi |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kolkata |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kollam |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Lucknow |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ludhiana |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Madurai |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Mangalore |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Meerut |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Moradabad |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Mumbai |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Mysore |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Nagpur |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Nashik |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Noida |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Patna |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Pune |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Raipur |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Rajkot |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ranchi |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Surat |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Thane |
80,000 |
2,50,000 |
Vadodara |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Varanasi |
50,000 |
1,80,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
60,000 |
2,00,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.