If you have already been evaluated and recommended for knee arthroscopy, choosing the right surgical team is the most important decision you will make.
New York Bone & Joint Specialists are a team of fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians built around our founder’s, Dr. Leon Popovitz, core belief: that preserving your body’s tissues is the foundation of long-term health and performance. Every provider at New York Bone & Joint, from your first consultation through your last physical therapy session, is committed to protecting what your cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles because healthy tissue is what keeps you active for life. When surgery is the right answer, it’s because it’s the most effective way to preserve that tissue, restore function, and protect the joint for the long term.
Dr. Popovitz is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon fellowship-trained in sports medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS). Over more than 20 years in practice, he has personally treated athletes at every level, from recreational and collegiate competitors to professional athletes, as well as active adults who need to get back to the life they love. His clinical approach goes beyond standard protocols: he brings firsthand surgical insight into the specific challenges that determine outcomes, from graft selection nuances in ACL reconstruction to the repairability criteria that distinguish a meniscus worth saving from one that cannot be.
Dr. Popovitz has been recognized by New York Magazine as a Best Doctor, by the New York Times as a Super Doctor, and by the International Association of Orthopedic Surgeons as both a Leading Physician of the World and Top Orthopedic Surgeon in New York. Every physician he has brought to New York Bone & Joint practices with that same depth of clinical judgment.
Already evaluated and recommended for arthroscopic surgery? You do not need to start over. New York Bone & Joint offers prompt surgical consultations and second opinions so you can move forward with confidence, or get the clarity you need before making a decision.
Dealing with an acute knee injury and not yet sure what you need? Our sports medicine physicians can evaluate you quickly. If a surgical consultation is warranted, one of our orthopedic surgeons will see you promptly. You are already with the team best equipped to take the next step.
Introduction
If you’ve been told you need knee arthroscopy or if you’re researching your options after a knee injury, the most important thing to know is this: arthroscopic knee surgery is one of the most effective, least invasive procedures in orthopedics, and recovery is far more manageable than most patients expect. At New York Bone & Joint, our fellowship-trained knee surgeons have performed arthroscopic procedures for over 20 years, treating meniscus tears, cartilage damage, ACL injuries, and persistent knee pain that hasn’t responded to conservative treatment. [1]
New York Bone & Joint surgeons perform knee arthroscopy at Lenox Hill Hospital, one of Manhattan’s premier surgical facilities. Consultations, imaging, and physical therapy take place at our Upper East Side and Midtown offices. This model gives patients the best of both worlds: the personal attention and accessibility of a dedicated private practice, combined with the surgical infrastructure of a top-tier Manhattan hospital.
Prompt access to expert care is a cornerstone of how New York Bone & Joint operates, for every type of patient. If you have already been evaluated elsewhere and recommended for knee arthroscopy, you do not need to wait weeks to see a surgeon. New York Bone & Joint offers prompt surgical consultations and second opinions for patients coming from outside the practice, so you can move forward with confidence or get the clarity you need before making a decision.
If you have sustained an acute knee injury and are not yet sure what you are dealing with, one of our sports medicine physicians can evaluate you quickly and give you a clear picture of your options. If that evaluation indicates a surgical consultation is warranted, an appointment with one of our orthopedic surgeons is arranged promptly. We believe that getting you in front of the right specialist at the right time is as important as the care itself.
What Is Knee Arthroscopy?
Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that allows the surgeon to see inside your knee joint and treat a wide range of problems without completely opening the knee with a large incision. Instead, two or three small portals (each about the size of a buttonhole) are created around the knee. A tiny camera called an arthroscope is inserted through one portal, projecting a real-time image of the joint interior onto a monitor. Surgical instruments are passed through the other portals to perform the procedure. [1]
Because the incisions are small, tissue disruption is minimal. Patients go home the same day. Swelling resolves faster, rehabilitation begins sooner, and return to activity is significantly quicker than with open surgery.
Conditions Treated with Knee Arthroscopy
Knee arthroscopy is a surgical approach used to treat several distinct conditions. The most common include:
Meniscus Tears. The most frequent indication for knee arthroscopy is a meniscus tear. Depending on the tear type and location, your surgeon will either repair the meniscus (suturing it back together) or perform a partial meniscectomy (removing only the unstable portion).
Some meniscus tears occur where the meniscus attaches to the bone. These are particularly critical to repair, because research has shown that an unrepaired meniscus root tear leads to accelerated progression of arthritis. [13] Our surgeons take a preservation-first approach: repair whenever possible, remove only what is necessary. [2]
“Very often the ability to determine whether a meniscus can be repaired doesn’t come down to a routine MRI. Typically, the requirement is for the tear to be within the ‘red area’ where blood flows and allows healing. But that can be a subtlety only determined in the operating room, when we use an instrument to inspect the tear and assess the viability of the tissue. Conversely, sometimes tears may not look repairable on MRI, but in the operating room we find that we most certainly can repair the meniscus. Therefore, we always go into the operating room prepared to repair and save the meniscus because preservation is the key to a healthy joint for a long lifetime to come.” — Dr. Leon Popovitz, MD
Articular Cartilage Damage. Articular cartilage is the smooth layer that covers the ends of the bones in the joint. Damage to it can cause pain, locking, and instability. Losing or damaging articular cartilage can also lead to progressive arthritis over time.
Knee arthroscopy allows minimally invasive access to stimulate healing through microfracture, perform cartilage transplant or restoration procedures, smooth rough surfaces, and remove loose fragments that are causing pain. [7] [8]
“A major deciding factor regarding cartilage restoration or transplantation is how much cartilage has been lost. If we look inside and find that the majority of the articular cartilage lining is diffusely absent, that typically is a contraindication for microfracture or transplantation procedures.” — Dr. Leon Popovitz, MD
ACL Reconstruction & Repair. Arthroscopy is used as part of both ACL reconstruction and ACL repair. The camera allows precise placement of bone tunnels and graft fixation that is not possible with open techniques. [3] [10]
“ACL repair wasn’t an option many years ago due to poor healing potential. It has since become viable again because of advanced repair instrumentation, but the criteria remain very specific. Generally, the tear must be proximal, and ideally an avulsion directly off the bone rather than a mid-substance tear, because we need a solid, robust amount of remaining tissue to repair back onto the bone. MRI doesn’t always give us that information with complete accuracy, and the decision to repair versus reconstruct frequently becomes an intraoperative one. We need to see the tissue firsthand and probe it to determine whether enough remains for a successful repair.” — Dr. Leon Popovitz, MD
Synovitis. Excess inflamed synovial tissue can cause persistent pain and swelling. Arthroscopy allows precise removal of inflamed tissue without disturbing healthy structures.
Loose Body Removal. Fragments of bone or cartilage that break off and float inside the knee joint, causing catching, locking, or sudden sharp pain, can be located and removed arthroscopically.
Patellar Instability. Minimally invasive techniques for stabilizing a recurrent dislocation or unstable kneecap (patella) can now be performed utilizing the arthroscope.
Are You a Candidate for Knee Arthroscopy?
Not every knee problem requires surgery, and at New York Bone & Joint, we will never recommend arthroscopy unless it is genuinely the right answer for your specific situation. Arthroscopy is typically recommended when:
- You have a confirmed traumatic meniscus tear on MRI and an effort to repair and save the meniscus is warranted
- You have a confirmed degenerative meniscus tear on MRI with mechanical symptoms such as locking, catching, or giving way that has not resolved with physical therapy [2]
- You have a complete ACL tear and have elected surgical reconstruction after a full discussion of surgical and non-surgical options [3]
- You have articular cartilage damage causing persistent pain that has not responded to injections or PT [8]
- You have confirmed loose bodies causing intermittent joint locking or sharp pain
- Imaging has identified a structural problem that cannot be adequately treated conservatively
Arthroscopy is generally not recommended for patients with mild knee arthritis, pain without a confirmed structural diagnosis, or patients who have not yet completed an appropriate course of conservative treatment. At your consultation, we will review your imaging, your symptom history, and your activity goals and give you a straight answer about whether surgery is the right next step.
All the while, New York Bone & Joint surgeons’ core focus will always be to preserve your own tissue. We believe that is the key to the longevity of your joints and overall health. [12]
| From Dr. Popovitz: A Case That Illustrates Why Preservation Matters
Recently, I performed a knee arthroscopy on a 25-year-old patient. I had repaired her meniscus 10 years ago, and she returned to see me with a new problem. Thankfully, the new problem can be managed without surgery. I asked about how the knee I repaired was doing. The original injury occurred while she was playing soccer for her high school. She happily told me that she went on to play soccer in college and now routinely plays in Central Park. She is very active and preparing to have a child. For a moment, I thought about what could have been had her meniscus not been repaired: how she may have gone on to develop premature arthritis, and how limited her function would have been without the repair. And then I was so very grateful to have been able to help her. I am so thankful that she is living the life she wants and deserves. — Dr. Leon Popovitz, MD |
The Procedure: What Happens During Knee Arthroscopy
Knee arthroscopy is typically performed under general anesthesia. In many cases, a nerve block or regional anesthesia is used alongside general anesthesia to minimize the amount of medication required and to limit post-operative pain. Most cases take between 30 minutes and 90 minutes, depending on what needs to be addressed inside the joint.
Your surgeon will:
- Make two or three small portals around the knee, typically less than a centimeter each
- Insert the arthroscope to visualize the joint, including the menisci, articular cartilage surfaces, ACL, PCL, and the lining of the joint
- Introduce surgical instruments through the working portals to perform the specific procedure such as meniscus repair, meniscectomy, ACL reconstruction or repair, cartilage preservation, or loose body removal
- Use sterile saline solution continuously throughout the procedure to open the joint for access and visibility and to maintain sterility
- Close the portals with small, often times absorbable sutures and apply a surgical dressing
You will be discharged home the same day in most cases. You will leave with a surgical dressing, often a brace and crutches if indicated, and a clear plan for starting physical therapy.
Recovery & Rehabilitation: What to Expect
Recovery timelines vary depending on which procedure was performed. A straightforward partial meniscectomy has a significantly faster recovery than an ACL reconstruction performed arthroscopically. Below is a general guide. Your surgeon will provide a specific protocol at your pre-operative appointment.
| Timeframe | What to Expect |
| Weeks 1–2 | Rest and protect. Ice and elevation. Ambulation starts day 1: do not stay in bed. Crutches and brace if indicated by procedure. Swelling management is the priority. First PT visit typically week 1–2. Return to desk work typical by week 2. |
| Weeks 3–4 | Progress gentle range-of-motion exercises depending on procedure. Weight-bearing is determined by your surgeon based on what was done. |
| Weeks 4–6 | Progressive strengthening begins. Stationary bike and walking. Pool walking if appropriate. |
| Months 2–3 | Sport-specific strengthening. Jogging on flat surfaces typically by week 8–10 if appropriate for your procedure. |
| Months 3–4 | Return to low-impact sport. Final clearance is criteria-based (strength, stability, and functional testing) and not time alone. More involved procedures such as ACL reconstruction will take longer. |
| Months 4–6+ | Progression to cutting, pivoting, and high-demand sport for less involved procedures. ACL reconstruction or patella stabilization may require 6–9 months before full return to activities. |
Patients who undergo simple meniscectomy typically return to desk work within one to two weeks and low-impact activity within four to six weeks. ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair require a more structured rehabilitation program and longer protected recovery. Your surgeon and physical therapist will set expectations clearly before your procedure. [5] [11]
In-House Physical Therapy: Coordinated Rehabilitation at NYBJ
Your recovery after knee arthroscopy is as important as the surgery itself. At New York Bone & Joint, your physical therapist and your surgeon are in the same center, and they communicate directly about your case from day one.
Before your first PT appointment, your New York Bone & Joint therapist has already reviewed your operative report and spoken with your surgeon. Your rehabilitation program is built around exactly what was done during your procedure, your surgeon’s protocol, and your specific recovery goals rather than a generic post-surgical template. When questions arise during your recovery, answers come the same day, not at an appointment weeks later.
For athletic patients, our team uses sport-specific return-to-activity protocols with objective functional testing, so the decision to return to your sport is based on what your knee can actually do, not just how much time has passed. [11]
Why Choose New York Bone & Joint Over a Hospital System?
If you are considering arthroscopic knee surgery in New York City, you will likely compare us to major hospital systems like NYU Langone, Hospital for Special Surgery, or Mount Sinai. This is the right question to ask. Here is what the comparison actually looks like:
| New York Bone & Joint Specialists | Major Hospital Systems | |
| Initial consultation wait | Prompt surgical consultations without the weeks-long waits of major hospital systems | Typically 4–8 weeks for an orthopedic consultation |
| Surgical facility | Lenox Hill Hospital, a premier Manhattan surgical facility | Varies by system and campus |
| Your evaluating physician | Is your surgeon; you work with the same person, start to finish | May not be the surgeon who operates on you |
| PT after surgery | In-house, same center, same team; your surgeon and PT communicate directly | Often at a separate location, with separate providers |
| Imaging | Prompt MRIs at affiliated centers, coordinated by New York Bone & Joint, convenient to you | Often long waits; less personal coordination |
| Attention to your case | Private practice: your surgeon knows your case, history, and goals | High patient volume; potential secondary providers |
| Appointment accessibility | Direct access to your care team with questions | Communication through referral and scheduling systems |
The bottom line |
| When surgery is the right answer, who does it for you is what matters most. New York Bone & Joint orthopedic surgeons’ core focus is on preserving your joint health for a long lifetime to come. That’s our foundation and always our goal. You’ll see the same fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon from your first consultation through your last PT session, with your PT team in the same center. Surgery is performed at Lenox Hill Hospital. Your surgeon and your physical therapist communicate directly and regularly. And when you need to be seen, you’re not waiting weeks for an appointment. This is how orthopedic care should work. |
Risks & Considerations
Knee arthroscopy is one of the safest procedures in orthopedic surgery, with a very low overall complication rate. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks that should be understood before proceeding:
- Infection: Rare with arthroscopic procedures (less than 1% [9]), but all surgical sites carry some risk. We follow strict sterile technique and provide post-operative care instructions to minimize this.
- Blood clots (DVT): Uncommon for lower extremity arthroscopy, particularly in younger patients. Your surgeon will advise you on activity and anticoagulation if relevant to your profile.
- Nerve or blood vessel injury: Extremely rare with standard knee arthroscopy portals. Risk increases with complex reconstructive procedures and is discussed in detail for those cases.
- Stiffness: Some patients experience temporary stiffness post-operatively, particularly after meniscus repair with protected weight-bearing. Early PT initiation reduces this risk.
- Re-tear or incomplete healing: Meniscus repairs have a known healing rate that depends on tear location, tissue quality, and patient biology: approximately 70–90% for well-vascularized tears in appropriate candidates. [4] Your surgeon will discuss realistic expectations for your specific tear pattern.
At your consultation, your surgeon will walk through the specific risks relevant to your procedure and your individual health profile.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Knee Arthroscopy. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/knee-arthroscopy
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Meniscus Tears. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/meniscus-tears
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. ACL Injury. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-injuries
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). Clinical guidelines on meniscus repair outcomes. aossm.org
- Mather RC et al. The Societal and Economic Value of Rotational Stability in ACL Reconstruction. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2025. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3779900
- Foley A et al. Return to Sport After ACL Reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2016. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12446172
- Wang KC et al. Long-term Clinical Outcomes After Microfracture of the Glenohumeral Joint: Average 10-Year Follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29373801
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Articular Cartilage Restoration. OrthoInfo. orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/articular-cartilage-restoration
- Hagino T et al. Complications after arthroscopic knee surgery. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2014. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25047161
- AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline. Management of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries. aaos.org
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Return to Sport After ACL Reconstruction — Position Statement. aossm.org
- Lohmander LS et al. The long-term consequence of anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries. Am J Sports Med. 2007. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17761605
- Foreman SC et al. Meniscal Root Tears and Extrusion Are Significantly Associated with the Development of Accelerated Knee Osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Am J Sports Med. 2020. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32567341
