The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
Private Ankle Arthroscopy in the UK
Keyhole surgery of the ankle joint, a minimally invasive operation to evaluate and treat pain, swelling and stiffness in your ankle.
What is an ankle arthroscopy?
Ankle arthroscopy is a keyhole procedure that allows your consultant to see inside your joints.
Your consultant uses a small surgical camera (arthroscope) inserted through tiny cuts in your ankle.
An arthroscopy is used to diagnose and treat a range of joint problems — from ligament damage to arthritis — without open surgery.
Need to know
Arthroscopy is usually done under general anaesthetic. Sometimes it can be done using local or regional anaesthetic, which numbs the area being operated on.
Your consultant will make make tiny incisions on either side of your ankle to insert the arthroscope. A sterile solution will then be used to wash out your joint so that they can see inside it more clearly.
If they identify a problem, specialised surgical instruments can be used alongside the arthroscope to repair it. This might include removing bone spurs or reconstructing torn ligaments. The whole procedure in the operating theatre usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Your consultant will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. If you'll be having general anaesthetic, they'll let you know how long you should avoid eating and drinking beforehand.
Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you. Before surgery, your consultant may recommend a CT or MRI scan to help identify any problems with your ankle joint.
After the procedure, your consultant will remove the arthroscope and use stitches or adhesive strips to close the small cuts. You should be able to go home the same day, but occasionally you may need to be cared for in hospital overnight.
The leg that's been operated on needs to be elevated for 24 to 48 hours after surgery. It's not uncommon for your ankle to be swollen and tender for a few days. Ice and physiotherapy exercises can help.
Your consultant will let you know what to expect and how to care for your ankle while it heals. They'll also let you know when you can get back to your usual routine, including work or exercise.
Our Private Ankle Arthroscopy in the UK locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH)
170 Tottenham Court Road W1T 7HA London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Chelsea Outpatients
280 King's Road SW3 5AW London
The Princess Grace Hospital Outpatients
30 Devonshire Street W1G 6PU London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
Beaufort House WD6 3BS Elstree
Golders Green Outpatients
Golders Green Outpatients and Diagnostic Centre NW11 9PY London
The Wellington Hospital Outpatients
15 - 17 Lodge Road NW8 7JA London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.