Knee Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to examine tissues inside the knee. It is often performed to confirm a diagnosis made after a physical examination and other imaging tests such as MRI, CT or X-rays.
During an arthroscopic procedure, a thin fiberoptic light, magnifying lens and tiny television camera are inserted into the knee, allowing your doctor to examine the joint in great detail. This procedure can often eliminate or postpone the need for knee replacement surgery and allow patients to enjoy restored use and effective symptom relief within the knee joint.
Benefits
Because it is minimally invasive, arthroscopy offers many benefits to the patient over traditional surgery. These include:
- No cutting of muscles or tendons
- Less bleeding during surgery
- Less scarring
- Smaller incisions
- Faster recovery and return to regular activities
- Faster and more comfortable rehabilitation
While arthroscopy is advantageous in many ways over the traditional procedure, it is not for everybody. Certain conditions and cases will still be better suited for a traditional surgical approach. Your doctor will decide which type of procedure is best for you after a thorough evaluation of your condition.
Knee Arthroscopy Procedure
During knee arthroscopy, your doctor will create several tiny incisions in the knee, into which the arthroscope is inserted to examine the knee and determine the cause of symptoms. This may be performed using general or regional anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure and the preference and overall health of the patient.
For some patients, it is then possible to treat the problem using a few additional instruments inserted through small incisions around the joint. Saline is pumped into the knee to allow for more space to make repairs. Repairs made using arthroscopy may include removing or repairing damaged structures and tissues.
Sports injuries are often repairable with arthroscopy. Knee injuries that are frequently treated using arthroscopic techniques include meniscal tears, mild arthritis, loose bone or cartilage, ACL and PCL tears, synovitis (swelling of the joint lining) and patellar (knee cap) misalignment.
The entire procedure usually takes about 30 minutes to one hour, after which patients will be moved to a recovery room and will likely be able to return home after a few hours.
Recovery
After the knee arthroscopy procedure, patients may experience mild swelling and discomfort. These symptoms can be minimized by keeping the knee elevated, wearing compression garments and applying ice to the knee. Your doctor will provide you with specific postoperative instructions to facilitate the healing process and help patients return to their regular activities as soon as possible.
In most cases, patients will be able to return to work within a few days to a week, and will be able to resume physical activity in a month or two. A customized physical therapy program allows patients to regain control, strength and motion of the joint for an optimized recovery process.
Risks
Although arthroscopy is considered safer and less invasive than traditional surgery, there are still certain risks associated with any type of surgical procedure. Some of these risks may include infection, bleeding, nerve damage, blood clot, knee stiffness and reaction to anesthesia. These risks are considered rare, and can be further reduced by choosing an experienced surgeon to perform your procedure.
Arthroscopy is not appropriate for every patient. Your doctor will discuss the options that are best for you, along with any associated risks, during a pre-surgical consultation. To learn more about knee arthroscopy, please call us today to schedule an appointment.
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