Knee Arthroscopy

What is Knee Arthroscopy?
This is a minimal invasive surgical procedure performed to diagnose and treat problems in the knee joint.

Basically, the doctor will make a very small incision and insert the Arthroscope, a tiny camera, into your knee, enabling them to view the inside of the joint on the screen. The surgeons will then investigate the issue with the knee and correct it, if necessary, using small instruments within the arthroscope.

Arthroscopic knee surgery helps in diagnosing several knee problems like Meniscal tears or a misaligned kneecap and repair the ligaments of the joint with minimal risk. The recovery time and the prognosis will depend on the extent of the knee injury and the complexity of the procedure.

Knee Arthroscopy

When is it needed?
The doctors might recommend this treatment when you have knee pain. The doctor might have already diagnosed your condition or he might need the arthroscopy to diagnose, confirm the pain source and treat it.

The injuries that can be diagnosed and treated by arthroscopy are:

• Anterior Circulate Ligament Tear & Posterior Circulate Ligament Tear 
• Meniscal Tears
• Misaligned Patella
• Presence of loose and torn cartilage in joint
• Fractures in knee bones
• Swollen synovium (joint lining)
• Remove bone spurs

Pre-Procedural activities

• Patient will be prepared for the surgery by taking blood tests, ECG or chest X-ray, for a safe surgery.
• Inform the doctor of the medications and supplements, you are presently taking. You might have to stop taking Ibuprofen or aspirin, before the procedure.
• Please refrain from eating and drinking 6-12 hours prior to procedure.

During procedure

• Patient will be given anaesthetic before the surgery, which might be:
  
  • Regional: Numb the region below the waist
  • General: Puts patient to sleep
• The surgeon will begin by making incisions or cuts in the knee and saline will be pumped into your knee to expand it, helping to see better.
• The arthroscope is entered through this incision and the tiny camera is used to view and take images of the injured area.
• Once the problem in the knee is located, small tools are inserted into the incisions to rectify this issue.
• Once the surgery is over, saline is drained out and the incisions are closed with stitches.

Post-Procedural Activities

• There might be some pain and swelling after the surgery
• The patient usually can leave the hospital next day itself.
• The doctor might suggest icepack, elevated leg position and change of dressing at home. The icepack will help reduce the swelling and minimize pain.
• Doctor will need to see you at a follow-up appointment after a few days.
• You might have to follow an exercise regimen, as instructed by the doctor or physical therapist.