Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure doctors use to look at, diagnose, and treat problems inside joints. Most often, it’s done on the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, or wrist.

To do an arthroscopy, your doctor will insert pencil-thin tools through small cuts (incisions). These tools have a camera lens and light. The surgeon will also have tools that can cut or shave tissue.

How it works

A few small incisions are made in your knee, a sterile fluid is pumped into the joint to widen the space and a camera with a light attached is used to view the inside of the joint. A video monitor is also used to display the images.

Arthroscopy is performed under local, spinal, or general anesthesia. Your anesthesiologist will decide which method is best suited to your age and health condition.

Your knee is first numbed with a local anaesthetic. This is the same drug that you might take to numb your teeth and gums. The numbing agent works by blocking the nerves that control your muscles.

Next, a small tube (called a cannula) is inserted over the guide wire into the joint space. This allows the surgeon to see the inside of the joint through a smaller incision.

An examining probe or other fine surgical instruments are then inserted into the cannula to view and repair tissues from different angles. A primary incision is usually the most significant, though one or two other portals are sometimes accessed to visualize the joint and repair it from different positions.

The most important aspect of arthroscopic surgery is that it can often be performed using less anaesthesia than traditional open surgery. It is also a less invasive procedure and tends to produce fewer complications and quicker recovery. As a result, it is often the preferred choice for patients with knee injuries. It may be accompanied by pain medication and physiotherapy to help you get back to your normal activities.

What to expect

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to Bending Section treat joint conditions. It can be used to diagnose and treat problems like arthritis, meniscal tears, bone fractures, a loose kneecap (patella), and injuries in the shoulder.

During the procedure, your doctor will use a special camera called an arthroscope to look inside your joint. They will insert it through a small cut (incision) that is the size of a buttonhole. They will also use other small incisions to insert surgical instruments that can cut, shave, grasp, or anchor stitches into bone.

Your doctor will numb your skin with a local anaesthetic to prevent you feeling any pain during the procedure. They may also inject antibacterial fluid into your joint to clean it.

Once the arthroscope is inserted into your joint, it will project an image on a video monitor. The surgeon will then see the structure of your joint in detail and determine the best way to fix it. They may need to remove a piece of damaged tissue, or they may need to place special pins to repair it.

The procedure is usually less painful than open surgery, but you may still have some pain and stiffness for a while after the surgery. You should try to stay as comfortable as possible and take pain medication if needed.

After the procedure, your doctor will close the incisions and remove the arthroscope. They will also remove any excess fluid. You will probably need to wear a compression stocking or similar for a few weeks to help keep the joint moving and reduce swelling.

Your doctor may need to do blood tests and imaging before and after the procedure to make sure you are healthy. They may also need to talk with you about lifestyle changes that will help the joint heal.

After arthroscopic surgery, it can take a few weeks for the joint to recover completely. You should follow the instructions your surgeon gives you to help speed up your recovery. This will improve your overall health and mobility.

Preparation

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive orthopedic procedure that allows doctors to see inside a joint through small cuts, called incisions, or portals. It can help diagnose and treat a wide range of joint problems, and recovery times are usually shorter than for open surgery.

Before the procedure, you will be screened to make sure you are healthy enough for the surgery and have no health problems that could limit your ability to heal. This may include a physical examination, blood tests and a urine test. The doctor will also take your medical history, review your current medications, and discuss any concerns you have.

You will be given anesthesia to numb your body so you are not feeling pain during the arthroscopy. This can be a general anesthesia, a spinal or epidural anesthesia, or a local anesthetic that numbs only the knee area.

Then, a guide wire (similar to the one used in MRIs) is inserted into the joint space through one or more of the incisions. The guide wire is manipulated to create a series of narrow, flexible tubes or “portals” that allow the arthroscope or other specialized instruments to be inserted into the joint.

Each tube is attached to a small camera that allows the surgeon to see the inside of the Bending Section joint and its structures. The images are then sent to a monitor so the doctor can examine the cartilage, ligaments and tendons of the joint for indications of injury or disease.

After the insertion of the arthroscope, the joint is irrigated with fluid to remove any debris and enhance visibility. Then, other small incisions are made to allow the doctor to insert specialized tools that can be used to cut, shave, grasp and anchor stitches into bone.

Depending on the joint being treated, you will be placed in a position to view the surgical site through a video monitor. This may be supine (upward-facing), prone (downward-facing), or lateral decubitus (sideway-facing).

The surgeon will use the arthroscope and other instruments to view the inside of the joint, making sure everything looks normal before any repair or reconstruction is performed. After the procedure, you will be given pain medication to help you feel comfortable.

Procedure

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows your doctor to see inside your joint. It’s used to diagnose and treat a range of problems that can affect your knee or other joints. It’s typically performed under local or general anesthesia.

The process begins when your doctor numbs the area with an injection of a local anesthetic (such as a shot). They might also inject you with a drug called steroid to help with inflammation.

They might also shave and wash the area that’s being examined, to reduce the risk of infection. Once you’re numb, your surgeon will make two or three small incisions in the joint to insert the arthroscope and tiny specialized instruments.

Your surgeon will then fill the joint with sterile fluid to expand it and make it easier to see. They’ll use the arthroscope to examine your joint and take pictures that can be sent to a monitor. They may also repair or remove damaged areas of the joint.

After the surgery, your doctor will drain any excess fluid from your joint and close your incisions. They’ll also give you a prescription for pain medication to ease your discomfort after the surgery.

You’ll need to stay in the hospital until you recover from the surgery. Your doctor will let you know how to care for your incisions, what exercises to do to strengthen your muscles and ligaments, and what medicines to take to help speed up recovery.

During arthroscopic knee surgery, your doctor uses a pencil-sized arthroscope with a fiberoptic light source and a camera attached to it to view the inside of your knee. The image is then transmitted to a monitor, so your doctor can look at it and diagnose or treat the problem.

In some cases, you might have to stay in the hospital overnight, but this usually isn’t necessary. Your doctor will let you know how long you’ll be in the hospital, and when you can go home. The length of your stay depends on the type of arthroscopic surgery you’re having and how long you need to recover from it.