Arthroscopy is keyhole surgery inside a joint. The surgeon passes a camera about the width of a pencil through a small cut and works with fine instruments through one or two more. The knee and shoulder are by far the most common joints, followed by hip, ankle, elbow and wrist.
It lets surgeons repair or trim torn structures with less tissue damage than open surgery. Its limit is that it cannot reverse arthritis: washing out or tidying an arthritic knee has been shown not to help, and that operation is no longer recommended.
What Arthroscopy involves
After anaesthesia the limb is positioned and the joint is filled with sterile fluid to create space. Two or three cuts of under 1 cm are made. The camera shows the joint on a screen and the surgeon inspects every compartment before treating the problem: stitching or trimming a meniscus tear, reconstructing a cruciate ligament with a tendon graft, repairing a rotator cuff or labrum with suture anchors, removing loose bodies, or reshaping bone that causes impingement. The fluid is drained, the cuts are closed with a stitch or tape, and a dressing and sometimes a brace or sling are fitted.
Who is a good candidate for Arthroscopy?
A clear diagnosis from examination and MRI comes first. Arthroscopy is a treatment for a defined mechanical problem, rarely a way of finding out what is wrong.
- Locked or catching knee from a meniscus tear
- Anterior cruciate ligament rupture in an active person with instability
- Rotator cuff tear or recurrent shoulder dislocation
- Hip impingement with a labral tear in a younger adult
- Loose bodies causing locking
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Pain mainly from osteoarthritis
- Degenerative meniscus tears in middle age without locking, where physiotherapy does as well
- Active joint or skin infection
- Anyone unable to commit to months of rehabilitation after a repair
Technique options
- Meniscus repair: Stitching the tear, preferred in younger patients and tears near the blood supply. Slower recovery but preserves the cushion.
- Partial meniscectomy: Trimming an unstable flap that cannot heal.
- ACL reconstruction: A hamstring, patellar or quadriceps tendon graft replaces the torn ligament.
- Shoulder stabilisation or cuff repair: Suture anchors reattach the labrum or tendon to bone.
- Hip arthroscopy: Reshapes the ball or socket rim and repairs the labrum.
What happens during your treatment
Simple procedures take 30 to 45 minutes; ligament and cuff repairs take 1 to 2 hours. General or spinal anaesthesia is used, often with a nerve block that keeps the limb numb for 12 to 24 hours. Most patients go home the same day or after one night.
Preparing for your trip
Plan for 5 to 10 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
Recovery and results
After a simple trim you walk the same day and return to desk work in about a week. After meniscus repair expect crutches and a brace for 4 to 6 weeks. After ACL reconstruction, running starts at around 3 to 4 months and pivoting sport at 9 to 12 months. A cuff repair means a sling for 4 to 6 weeks and 4 to 6 months before heavy use. The physiotherapy is as important as the operation and happens at home, so arrange it before you travel.
- Back to everyday activity: 1 week to several months
- When results show: Depends on the repair
- How long they last: Long lasting if rehabilitation is completed
Safety, risks and revision policy
Arthroscopy is low risk compared with open surgery, but long flights soon after leg surgery add to clot risk.
- Joint infection, uncommon but serious
- Deep vein thrombosis, particularly after knee and hip procedures
- Stiffness, the most common problem after shoulder and ACL surgery
- Numb patch of skin near the cuts
- Failure of a repair or re-rupture of a graft
- Persistent swelling or pain
- Nerve stretch injury from traction in hip arthroscopy
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Arthroscopy in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Arthroscopy, because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Which joint and whether it is a trim, a repair or a reconstruction
- Implants such as anchors, screws and graft fixation
- Day case or overnight stay
- MRI and pre-operative tests if not already done
- Brace, sling and early physiotherapy sessions
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I fly home?
Commonly 3 to 7 days after knee or shoulder arthroscopy once the wound is checked. After leg surgery your surgeon may advise clot prevention for the flight.
Will arthroscopy help my arthritic knee?
Usually not. Trials show no lasting benefit from wash-out or debridement for osteoarthritis.
Do I need an MRI first?
Almost always. Bring the images, not only the report.