That is your decision, but a second reading of the same imaging costs nothing here and is common. The consultant states which findings support replacement, whether a smaller operation would do, and what happens if you wait. Sometimes the answer is that replacement is clearly indicated — that is a useful answer too.

A weight-bearing X-ray (standing AP, lateral, and skyline views) is the single most useful film — a lying-down X-ray understates joint space loss. MRI is helpful for meniscus, ligament and cartilage questions. If you have had previous knee surgery, the operation notes matter as much as the scan.

For a degenerative meniscus tear in a knee that already has arthritis, current practice generally does not favour arthroscopy — the tear is often a marker of the arthritis rather than the cause of the pain. For a traumatic tear that mechanically locks the knee, the reasoning is different. Which situation applies to you is what the review establishes.

That is a clinical decision made by the treating team based on your recovery, mobility and thrombosis risk, not a fixed number. It is discussed with you before admission so you can plan, and confirmed before discharge.

Bilateral surgery is possible in selected cases but carries different risks and a different recovery profile from staged surgery. The consultant will set out both routes and the factors that point one way or the other for your case.