Knee arthroscopy surgery at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals Murrayfield and Shawfair Park

Keyhole surgery allows your doctor to check and treat knee problems.

At Spire Edinburgh Hospitals, we offer knee arthroscopy for the investigation and treatment of knee pain and joint injuries, including meniscal (meniscus) tear, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, cartilage damage, ligament repair and osteoarthritis.

A knee arthroscopy is a type of keyhole surgery, which uses a thin, flexible, telescopic instrument called an arthroscope to investigate – and sometimes treat – knee problems.

Sometimes also called

  • Meniscal tear surgery
  • Cruciate ligament surgery

At a glance

  • Typical hospital stay
    Same-day discharge or 1 night

  • Procedure duration
    30 minutes to 2 hours

  • Type of anaesthetic
    General, spinal or local

  • Available to self-pay?
    Yes

  • Covered by health insurance?
    Yes

Why Spire?

  • Fast access to a wide range of treatments
  • Consultants who are experts in their field
  • Clear pricing with no hidden charges

By Wallace Health I Medically reviewed by Adrian Roberts.
Page last reviewed: October 2018 I Next review due: October 2023

Knee arthroscopy: what to expect at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals

At Spire Edinburgh Hospitals, our team of orthopaedic (bone and muscle) surgeons can offer you a treatment and care plan that's personal to you and your needs. Our nurses and physiotherapists will provide expert aftercare to help you live life to the fullest.

We offer fast access to diagnostic tests and scans and easy booking with appointment times to suit you. So you don’t have to wait long to find out if treatment is right for you.

How much does Knee arthroscopy surgery cost at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals Murrayfield and Shawfair Park

It's a common procedure to have done privately, and our inclusive prices and access to payment plans make it easy and more affordable, even if you don’t have medical insurance.

Knee arthroscopy surgery (multiple operations)
Initial consultation £180
Treatment price £4,041
Aftercare Included
From price From £4,221
Monthly treatment price

(Loan applicable to the treatment cost and excludes the initial consultation)

£211
Representative example
Loan amount £3,541
Deposit £500
Loan period 18 months
Representative APR 9.9%
Total amount repayable £3,798

The price shown is the ‘from price’ (ie the minimum cost of the procedure). Please note that for some procedures the actual price you are quoted may vary significantly and can increase depending on your choice of Consultant (who is an independent practitioner and not an employee of Spire). The fees charged by Consultants and Anaesthetists are set independently and are outside the control of Spire. The price may also vary depending on the type of anaesthetic, implant or drug used, and your medical history.

Spire Edinburgh Hospitals Murrayfield and Shawfair Park can provide you with a single, fixed price for your procedure so there are no surprises. Please read Spire Healthcare's terms and conditions for full details of what’s included and excluded in your fixed price when paying for yourself. Finance options are available through our partner Omni Capital Retail Finance Ltd, 10 Norwich Street, London, EC4A 1BD.

Preparing for knee arthroscopy at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals

Getting here

Spire Murrayfield is an approximate 20 minute drive east from Edinburgh Airport or 10 minutes west from Haymarket train station.

Spire Shawfair Park is to the south east of Edinburgh city centre, conveniently located close to the City Bypass and the Royal Infirmary.

Both hospitals have free parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

For your appointments, you’ll meet your consultant in one of our consultation rooms.

If you haven’t been diagnosed yet, your consultant will do the following before a knee arthroscopy:

  • Ask about your medical history
  • They may recommend using our advanced scanning, imaging and diagnostic technologies to look at your knee to help understand the cause of your pain or mobility issues

You’ll have an opportunity to discuss your needs and expectations from your surgery. Your consultant can then outline a treatment and care plan that’s tailored to you.

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Full knee arthroscopy surgery

Watch how a knee arthroscopy surgery takes place

Knee arthroscopy: your procedure

On the day of your knee arthroscopy, you’ll meet your orthopaedic consultant again and your anaesthetist. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge while you have your operation.

Your anaesthetist or consultant will give you one of the following:

  • A general anaesthetic, which means you’re asleep
  • An epidural (spinal) anaesthetic is when you can’t feel anything below your waist
  • A local anaesthetic so you can’t feel your knee

Once ready, your consultant will make tiny incisions and pass a small telescopic instrument into your knee. This is called an arthroscope and has a camera so your consultant can see inside your knee to do any of the following:

  • Investigate your knee to find a cause of your pain or other symptoms
  • Repair damage to soft tissues
  • Remove loose bone fragments or scar tissue
  • Take tissue samples if there’s inflammation

Exactly what happens during your procedure will depend on your symptoms or condition. Your consultant will let you know if they recommend further treatment following an investigative knee arthroscopy.

Q & A

Jeremy Jarratt, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Talking about knee arthroscopy surgery

Knee arthroscopy: your recovery

After your procedure, you may go home on the same day or the following day, depending on the time of your surgery and whether you had any treatment.

Although there’s less pain after an arthroscopy than with traditional surgery, you’re likely to feel discomfort once the anaesthetic wears off. How long this lasts will depend on:

  • The cause of your knee pain
  • Whether you had any treatment during the procedure
  • If you have an ongoing knee disease or injury needing further treatment
  • Your personal pain threshold

But don’t worry, you’ll be given painkillers to help you manage over the following days. Your physiotherapist will also give you an exercise plan to help you get active again, plus a guide to how long your recovery will take.

Your consultant may also explain to you what’s been found and whether they recommend further treatment.

Although everybody’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical recovery timeline for knee arthroscopy:

Up to 1 night

Leave hospital

1–2 weeks

Return to work, depending on your job

Around 2 weeks

May be able to drive

6 weeks

Return to heavy work and sports

  • Up to 1 night


    Leave hospital

  • 1–2 weeks


    Return to work, depending on your job

  • Around 2 weeks


    May be able to drive

  • 6 weeks


    Return to heavy work and sports

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.

How to get to us

Spire Murrayfield is an approximate 20 minute drive from Edinburgh Airport or 10 minutes from Haymarket train station. Regular buses serve the area well. Spire Shawfair Park is located to the south east of the city centre close to the City Bypass and the Royal Infirmary at 10 Easter Shawfair, Edinburgh, EH22 1FE.

Find us on Google maps

Spire Edinburgh Hospitals Murrayfield and Shawfair Park,

Spire Murrayfield Hospital
122 Corstorphine Road
Edinburgh
EH12 6UD

Get in touch

37026
True
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