Knee Arthroscopy Surgery: What to Expect and How It Can Help You
Whether you’re a longtime wear and tear or an athlete, knee pain can seriously interfere with day-to-day activities. Simple movements might become difficult due to injuries and arthritis in the joints. Knee arthroscopy surgery is a typical way to diagnose and treat various knee issues. For people who desire efficient outcomes and a speedy recovery, this minimally invasive therapy has grown in popularity. In this blog, let’s go over the definition of knee arthroscopy surgery, its advantages, the healing period, and how it can enhance your quality of life.
What is Knee Arthroscopy Surgery?
Knee arthroscopy surgery is a minimally invasive technique for diagnosing and treating issues with the knee joint. “Arthroscopy” is derived from the Greek words “skopein” (to look) and “arthro” (joint). Through a tiny incision, an orthopedic surgeon performs this operation by inserting an arthroscope—a tiny camera—into your knee. The surgeon can examine the inside of the knee joint and make any necessary surgical repairs by using the camera to transmit images onto a screen.
Since it avoids the wide incisions needed for open surgery, this technique is preferred because it results in less tissue damage, faster recovery, and fewer complications.
Conditions Treated by Knee Arthroscopy Surgery
Knee arthroscopy is used to treat a number of knee problems, such as:
- Meniscus Torn: The meniscus is a cartilage fragment that supports and cushions the knee joint. Athletes and those with degenerative diseases frequently cry. The injured part can be removed or repaired via arthroscopy.
- Ligament Injuries: During athletic activities, ligaments like the PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) or ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) may tear. Arthroscopy aids in the repair and reconstruction of ligaments.
- Cartilage Damage: By smoothing out rough areas or using microfracture surgery to promote cartilage formation, arthroscopy can repair damaged cartilage.
- Loose Bodies in the Knee Joint: Pain and limited mobility can result from small fragments of bone or cartilage breaking off and floating inside the knee. An arthroscopy can be used to remove them.
- Knee Infections: In rare instances, arthroscopy can be used to remove contaminated tissue and cleanse the knee joint.
- Problems with Patella (Kneecap): Instability and persistent pain may result from kneecap damage or misalignment. The patella can be realigned or repaired via arthroscopy.
- Inflamed Synovial Tissue: The tissue lining the knee joint is called the synovium. Arthroscopy can assist in the removal of inflammatory synovial tissue in chronic inflammatory conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis).
The Knee Arthroscopy Surgery Procedure: Step-by-Step
Knowing what to anticipate will help you feel more at peace if you have been recommended to have knee arthroscopy surgery. The process is broken down as follows:
1. Getting Ready for Surgery
You will have a pre-operative consultation with your orthopedic surgeon before surgery. The surgeon will go over your medical history, talk about the nature of your knee problem, and go over the procedure in detail during this visit. In the days before the treatment, you could also be advised to stop taking certain drugs, such as blood thinners.
2. The use of anesthesia
To keep you comfortable during the treatment, an anesthetic will be administered on the day of the surgery. There are numerous choices for anesthesia, such as:
Local anesthesia keeps you conscious while numbing just your knee.
You can be either awake or sedated during regional anesthesia, which numbs your entire body from the waist down.
Under general anesthesia, you are rendered unconscious throughout the process.
3. Making Incisions and Inserting the Arthroscope
Following the onset of anesthesia, the surgeon will make two to three tiny incisions around your knee. The surgeon can see inside the knee joint by inserting an arthroscope into one incision. To make the required repairs, further tiny surgical tools could be placed through the remaining wounds.
4. Recognition and Repair
The surgeon will examine the joint with the arthroscope and make repairs based on the results. To promote cartilage renewal, this may entail microfracture surgery, eliminating loose bodies, or cutting a damaged meniscus.
5. Finalization and Settlement
The surgeon will take out the arthroscope and other tools once the required repairs are finished. To reduce swelling and preserve the area, your knee will be covered with a gentle bandage after the wounds are closed with stitches or sterile strips.
6. Recovery After Surgery
Following the procedure, you will be brought to a recovery centre where you will be closely watched for a few hours before being released to return home. You won’t need to spend the night in the hospital because the majority of knee arthroscopy surgeries are done as outpatient procedures.
How Your Life Can Be Better With Knee Arthroscopy Surgery
Regaining your quality of life is possible with knee arthroscopy, which is more than just a surgical surgery. Knee issues can make even the most basic chores difficult, regardless of whether you’re battling with arthritis, sports injuries, or wear and tear from daily activity.
Having a knee arthroscopy allows you to:
- Reduce Pain: An arthroscopy can greatly lessen or perhaps completely remove chronic knee pain caused by torn cartilage, damaged ligaments, or loose bodies in the joint.
- Restore Mobility: Stiffness and restricted movement are common symptoms of knee problems. Arthroscopy gives you more range of motion and flexibility by enabling the surgeon to address underlying issues.
- Stop Additional Damage: If knee problems are left untreated, they may eventually develop into more serious joint concerns. You can avoid future need for more invasive surgery by using arthroscopy to address the underlying reason.
A minimally invasive treatment for a range of knee issues, including torn ligaments and cartilage damage, is knee arthroscopy surgery. It is a great alternative for anyone with persistent knee discomfort or injury because of its shorter recovery period, decreased risk of complications, and precise diagnosis and treatment of knee problems.See a skilled orthopedic surgeon about your options if you’re thinking about having a knee arthroscopy to find out if it’s the correct procedure for you. Our specialty at YK Orthopaedics is knee arthroscopy surgery, which helps patients live pain-free and regain their mobility.
