Did you know that knee arthroscopy has a 90% success rate?1 Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive outpatient surgical procedure that uses an arthroscope to view the damaged knee joint. An arthroscope is a small tube with multiple lenses, a tiny video camera, and a light to help visualize the knee injury. The tube is inserted in a small incision made near the site of injury. The video camera is connected to a large video monitor, which is a live feed of the arthroscope’s view inside your knee joint.
Arthroscopic surgery differs from open surgery because the incisions are small, and it uses visual tools, rather than the naked eye. This allows for better precision, as well as an easier recovery for the patient. Knee arthroscopy can include procedures like meniscus repair, ligament repair, cartilage reconstruction, bone fragment removal, tissue removal, patellar repair, etc. Apart from treatment, knee arthroscopy can also be used to diagnose injuries in the knee joint.
Although the procedure for knee arthroscopy may vary, here are the basic steps of the surgery:
- The patient receives general, local, or spinal anesthetic
- A small incision at the knee joint is made
- The arthroscope is inserted into the incision
- Additional incisions may be made for other surgical tools
- Footage of the interior of the knee is displayed on a video monitor
- Diagnosis or corrective surgery is conducted
- The arthroscope is removed and the incisions are closed and bandaged.
Knee arthroscopy is a widely used procedure among orthopedic surgeons with benefits that include, shorter hospitalization, less tissue damage, reduced complication risk, and quicker recovery. If you or a loved one has suffered from a knee injury, contact the sports medicine surgeons at Hinsdale Orthopedics to learn more about knee arthroscopy.
Author: Dr. Jeffrey S. Staron is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in sports medicine. Dr. Staron provides comprehensive care for the musculoskeletal system treating acute injuries and chronic joint pain in Munster, Indiana.