Frequently Asked Questions About Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows doctors to examine the inside of a joint using an arthroscope, a small instrument with a light and lens on the end that is inserted into the joint through a small incision made in the skin. The arthroscope magnifies the image and projects it onto a monitor so that the doctor can view it while operating.

FAQ's

Why Is Arthroscopy Necessary?

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to examine the inside of a joint and repair or remove damaged tissue. The procedure can be used for routine surgeries such as cleaning out debris from the joint, removing loose bodies (bone fragments) or cartilage that has torn away from the bone, repairing torn ligaments or menisci (cartilage pads in the knee), and removing loose bodies from tendons.

Arthroscopic surgery is often used to diagnose an injury or condition that may require more extensive surgery. For example, if a patient complains of knee pain and an MRI reveals a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), arthroscopic surgery may be performed to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether there is any additional damage to other structures in the knee.

What Are Some Problems Treated With Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy provides an alternative to open surgery or arthrography (X-ray examination of the joint) for diagnosing some problems that affect joints such as:

Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis)

Rheumatoid arthritis

Infection

Dislocation of a joint

Fractures or tears in ligaments or tendons

 

What Joints Are Most Frequently Examined By Arthroscopy?

The most common joints that are examined by arthroscopy are:

Knee. Arthroscopic knee surgery can diagnose and treat problems such as meniscus tears, loose bodies, cartilage defects and arthritis. It’s also used to treat osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a painful condition in which pieces of cartilage break off from the underlying bone surface.

Elbow. During elbow arthroscopy, your surgeon may repair a torn ligament or remove loose bodies or calcium deposits from your elbow joint. Elbow arthroscopy may also be used to diagnose and treat anterior impingement syndrome (AIS), which occurs when tendons or muscles get pinched between bones in the front of your elbow during overhead activities like throwing, serving or swinging a golf club. 

Hip. Hip arthroscopic surgery gives your doctor an unobstructed view of the hip joint so he can identify and treat problems like labral tears, loose bodies and arthritis. Hip arthroscopic surgery may also be used to correct femoral acetabular impingement (FAI).

How Is Arthroscopy Performed?

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the surgeon to examine and treat the interior of a joint without making an incision. The doctor inserts a long, thin instrument called an arthroscope into the joint through a small incision. Through the scope, he or she can see inside the joint while performing an arthroscopic procedure.

Arthroscopy is most commonly used to diagnose and treat problems such as tears in cartilage or meniscus (the shock absorber between bones in your knee), tears in ligaments that hold joints together, and fractures of bones within joints. It can also be used for other conditions such as removal of loose bodies (e.g., bone chips) from within a joint.

To perform an arthroscopic procedure, general anesthesia is often used so that you are asleep during surgery. However, local anesthesia with sedation may be sufficient for some procedures. In some cases where it is necessary to numb only one side of your body (such as when performing sports medicine surgery on one leg), regional anesthesia may be used instead of general anesthesia so that only one side of your body goes numb during surgery.

 

What Are The Possible Complications Of Arthroscopy?

The most common complication of arthroscopy is bleeding. Bleeding may occur as a result of injury to blood vessels or as a result of an abnormal reaction to the anesthesia. Venous bleeding occurs in about 1% of patients who have had knee arthroscopy.

Bleeding usually is controlled by pressure and compression, but occasionally a blood transfusion may be necessary.

There is also a risk of infection at the surgical site. Antibiotics are used routinely before and after surgery, but they do not completely eliminate the possibility of postoperative wound infection or other serious complications such as pneumonia or heart attack. Most infections occur within seven days after surgery, but some occur much later — sometimes months or even years later — so it’s important to watch for signs and symptoms of infection such as increasing pain, swelling and redness at the surgical site; fever; drainage from the surgical site; loss of motion; increased stiffness; unexplained weight gain; chills; sweats; chills; night sweats; fatigue; and general malaise (feeling unwell).

 

What Are The Advantages Of Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy has several advantages over open surgery. First, it is less invasive. The incision is smaller so there is less pain and swelling after surgery. Second, arthroscopy allows for better visualization of the joint space and surrounding structures. This means that more tissue can be examined during the procedure without having to open up the entire joint capsule as in open surgery. Third, arthroscopy may allow for less blood loss during surgery because only small incisions are made into the joint capsule. 

In addition to these advantages, arthroscopic procedures are faster than open surgeries because they do not require general anesthesia or large incisions on the skin surface.

What Is Recovery Like After Arthroscopy?

Recovery from arthroscopy is typically quite fast. You may be able to walk without pain the day of surgery, and you should be able to care for yourself within a few days. You will likely experience some swelling, which may make it difficult to determine whether your knee is fully recovered.

Arthroscopy relies heavily on the ability to see what is going on in a joint. This operation can be done through a small hole or tunnel made in the side of the body. The surgeon has to put the patient under anesthesia because there is usually a great deal of pain when a damaged tissue is cleaned out.

Arthroscopy relies heavily on the ability to see what is going on in a joint. This operation can be done through a small hole or tunnel made in the side of the body. The surgeon has to put the patient under anesthesia because there is usually a great deal of pain when a damaged tissue is cleaned out.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reasons Of Having Pain and Tingling in Hands and Feet?

Image
 Pain and tingling in the hands and feet can be a distressing and uncomfortable experience. There are several possible reasons for these symptoms, ranging from relatively harmless causes to serious medical conditions. In this blog, we will explore some of the common reasons for pain and tingling in the hands and feet. Peripheral Neuropathy Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects the nerves in the peripheral nervous system. This can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and feet. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including diabetes, alcoholism, autoimmune diseases, and chemotherapy. Treatment may involve managing the underlying cause, medications, and physical therapy. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, becomes compressed. This can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and fingers. It is commonly seen in people who perform repetitive motions with their hands, such as typing o...
Read more

Knee Arthroscopy: An Effective Treatment for Joint Pain

Image
Joint pain can be debilitating and affect the quality of life of many people. If you are experiencing persistent knee pain, it may be time to see a joint pain doctor. One of the treatments they may recommend is knee arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that can help diagnose and treat a range of knee problems. Knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that uses a small camera, called an arthroscope, to look inside the knee joint. The procedure is performed by an orthopaedic surgeon, who makes small incisions around the knee and inserts the arthroscope. The camera then sends images to a monitor, which the surgeon uses to guide small instruments to treat the problem. One of the main benefits of knee arthroscopy is that it is minimally invasive. This means that the incisions made during the procedure are small, and there is less damage to the surrounding tissue. As a result, there is less pain and scarring, and the recovery time is shorter compared to traditional open surgery. Knee ...
Read more

7 Probiotics For Better Human Health

Image
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can provide numerous health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. They can help improve digestion, boost the immune system, and even promote mental health. That's why many healthcare professionals recommend probiotics as part of a healthy diet. If you're looking for the best sources of probiotics, you can start by incorporating these seven foods into your diet: Yogurt Yogurt is one of the most popular probiotic foods, containing strains like Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Kefir Kefir is a fermented milk drink that contains beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Kimchi  Kimchi is a Korean dish made of fermented vegetables, including cabbage and radish. It contains various strains of lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis. Sauerkraut Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage dish that is high in fiber, vitamin C, and beneficial b...
Read more