Keyhole surgery to diagnose and treat knee problems at The Alexandra Hospital
A knee arthroscopy can help diagnose and treat a broad range of problems with your knee, including damage caused by an accident during sport, and wear and tear caused by a long-term condition, such as arthritis.
A knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure, which means it is performed using a small incision. Your surgeon, usually an orthopaedic consultant, will use specially designed surgical tools to access your knee joint through a few small cuts. At The Alexandra Hospital in Manchester, we have a wide network of orthopaedic consultants who can perform a knee arthroscopy to diagnose and treat your knee pain.
A knee arthroscopy is performed to treat knee pain when other popular treatment options, such as physiotherapy or steroid injection therapy, has not helped alleviate your pain.
To find out more, call us on 0141 300 5009 or book an appointment with a specialist today.
Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient appointment fees are charged separately.
Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 14.9% APR.
If you have private health insurance, knee replacement surgery will usually be covered by your provider. Speak to your insurer directly to find out.
*This is a guide price for patients who are paying for their own treatment. The actual cost of your treatment will be confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
This type of arthritis causes chronic pain and stiffness, which in turn has a negative impact on your movement. This is the most common type of arthritis in the UK. It happens when the smooth cartilage which protects your joints from damage becomes worn down over time. It tends to happen as you get older and your joints become worn down.
This is a painful inflammatory joint condition caused by an autoimmune process, which occurs when your body mistakenly attacks its healthy cells. This often causes severe pain, swelling, inflammation and limited mobility.
Your ACL is a tough band of tissue in your knee joint that joins your thigh bone to your shin bone. It runs diagonally through the inside of your knee, helping to control the back-and-forth movement of your lower leg and to stabilise your knee joint. If you have a torn ACL, you might struggle to put weight on your knee, making walking and balancing difficult.
Fractures are typically caused by a traumatic injury such as a contact sports injury, but they can sometimes be caused by a condition that weakens your knee bone, such as osteoporosis. A knee fracture can cause symptoms such as bruising, swelling, and severe pain.
Bursitis happens when the fluid filled sacs (known as bursa) that cushion and protect your joints become inflamed. This can result in pain and swelling in your joints. Usually it presents as a dull, aching pain that can persist even when you take traditional painkillers or try gentle stretching.
Whatever the cause of your knee pain, our consultants at The Alexandra Hospital in Manchester can help by performing an arthroscopy to help treat and manage your pain.
During this initial appointment, your consultant will ask about your general health and medical history. They will want to know about any existing medical conditions, as well as the current knee pain symptoms you are experiencing.
In order to assess your symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis of your pain, your consultant will next carry out a gentle physical examination of your knee. In some cases, they might also send you to get an X-ray, which will be done onsite by one of our radiologists. All of this helps your consultant to make a diagnosis of the cause of your knee pain.
Once they have identified what's causing your knee problems, they will share more information about surgery and whether it could be the right treatment for you.
The time you'll wait between your initial consultation and having your knee arthroscopy (or any other treatment you're recommended) will differ from person to person. For example, someone who has suffered a traumatic injury may need to be seen very quickly. Your consultant will provide you with a fixed timeline for treatment.
The Alexandra Hospital sits in beautiful, leafy grounds just a short walk from the centre of Cheadle (within the historic county of Cheshire). Having opened in 1981, we've provided healthcare to the local community for over 40 years. More than 600 consultants practice in our hospital, many of whom hold teaching responsibilities and are internationally renowned for their experience in their field.
We continually invest millions in our state-of-the-art facilities, which include MRI and sophisticated scanning units, a brand-new hybrid cardiac theatre which can be used for interventional diagnostics or as a traditional operating theatre, and a range of new equipment for our seven operating theatres. We also have a fully refurbished reception and outpatient areas for your comfort and convenience. We have a restaurant open daily with a wide selection of hot and cold foods, catering to all dietary needs.
"The Alexandra Hospital is just fantastic! The receptionists, the porter who took me to the ward, all the nursing staff, the pharmacist, the physiotherapists, the catering team, and the anaesthetist &- all of them who I saw prior to my surgery were friendly, helpful, and couldn't have made my experience any better. A truly fabulous hospital."
Patient review, Google
Your consultant will begin by making three small incisions in the skin on the side of your knee to access your knee joint. An arthroscope (a thin tube with a camera and a light attached to the end of it) is passed through one of these incisions and into your knee.
Your consultant will pass further instruments through the other incisions in your knee to repair any damage to your joint. The type of instrument they use will depend on your diagnosis and the extent of damage inside your knee. The process can involve removing or trimming any damaged tissue or cartilage in your joint.
An arthroscopy can take between 30 minutes to two hours to perform, but this will depend on the type of procedure that you have. You will usually be able to return home the same day of your surgery, though some people might have to stay overnight.
"The Alexandra Hospital has excellent clinic facilities allowing for assessing my patients comfortably and effectively. The radiology department has the best diagnostic equipment available with expert radiologists who can provide accurate reports and opinions.
"If surgery is needed, we will discuss it with you in detail, plan it appropriately, and deliver it quickly at your convenience. We will carry out your pre-operative assessment to ensure you are fit enough for surgery and whether any precautions need to be taken to ensure your safety.
"One huge advantage of performing surgery at the Alexandra Hospital is the higher care facilities available. Sometimes, patients with complex medical needs require one-to-one monitoring until they are safe. The well-equipped and staffed intensive care unit (ICU) at the Alex allows more complex patients to have private surgery.
"Once the surgery is complete and you have recovered, the excellent physiotherapy and rehab teams take over and ensure optimal recovery. I feel this is an excellent environment for success."
This depends on where you're travelling from, but the nearest train station to us is Stockport station. We are based around five miles from Manchester airport and very close to the Manchester circular M60 motorway, accessible via junction two or junction three. We are also a short walk away from Cheadle Village, which offers plenty of local bars, restaurants, and scenic views of the surrounding countryside.
Yes, The Alexandra Hospital has 440 parking spaces, including disabled spaces. We also have seven electric charging points.
You should be able to leave hospital on the same day as your surgery, but this depends on your individual circumstances. We will advise when it is safe for you to leave, and ensure you have all the information and equipment you need to continue your recovery at home.
We see children from zero to 18 years through our outpatient services, and from three to 18 years for day-case and inpatient procedures.
If you want to know more about a knee arthroscopy and find out if it's the right treatment for you, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in January 2023. Next review due January 2026.
Main Hospital
Mon - Sun: 24-hours
Private Walk In Centre
Monday to Friday: 10am-8pm (last appointment 7:30pm)
Saturday & Sunday: 10am-6pm (last appointment 5:30pm)
Yes - 440 spaces
7 electric vehicle charging stations
