Skip to Main Content
Care calculator »  knee arthroscopy with cartilage removal »

Is it worth having a knee arthroscopy?

Knee arthroscopy is typically done to treat injuries to the ligaments that hold the knee together and the cartilage that allows the joint to move smoothly. This procedure is generally only done when an orthopedic surgeon expects to find an injury that can be treated during the arthroscopy. 

If you have severe pain or reduced range of motion of the knee that makes walking and standing difficult, an arthroscopy is almost certainly a worthwhile procedure. However, if your pain is mild and has been well managed with medications and physical therapy, an arthroscopy is likely unnecessary. 

Some of the most common reasons a surgeon will perform an arthroscopy are:

  • A sensation of the knee “locking” or “catching” and being unable to move past a certain point.
  • Severe damage to the cartilage after an injury that is seen on MRI.
  • Severe pain after an injury that does not improve with a brace and resting the knee.

What is knee arthroscopy?

How is knee arthroscopy used to treat knee cartilage damage?

Can you remove cartilage from the knee?

Can you regrow cartilage in your knee?

How long does it take to fully recover from arthroscopic knee surgery?

Can you walk right after arthroscopic knee surgery?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.