Spectrum of Knee Arthroscopy: A 7-Year Retrospective Analysis from a Tertiary Care Center in North India

Background: Knee arthroscopy has evolved as the gold standard for both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in knee pathologies. Understanding the spectrum of cases managed arthroscopically is crucial for resource planning and surgical training. Objectives: We aimed to analyze and conduct an internal audit of the entire spectrum of knee arthroscopy procedures performed at a tertiary center over 7 years. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including all patients who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery at Apex Trauma Centre, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, between July 2018 and July 2025. Data on demographics, mechanism of injury, diagnosis, and surgical procedures were collected from hospital information systems. Patients with polytrauma or concurrent ipsilateral limb injuries were excluded. Results: A total of 496 patients underwent knee arthroscopy during the study period. The mean age was 29.8 ± 11.2 years with a male predominance (77.4%). Road traffic accidents were the leading cause of injury (42.1%), followed by sports injuries (38.3%). Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears represented 68.5% of cases, with ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft being the most common procedure (52.4%). Combined ligament and meniscal injuries occurred in 31.8% of cases. The procedures ranged from simple diagnostic arthroscopy to complex multiligament reconstructions. Conclusion: Knee arthroscopy at our center predominantly addresses traumatic ACL injuries in young males. The spectrum encompasses simple to complex pathologies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive arthroscopic training and expertise in ligament reconstruction techniques.