What is Knee arthroscopy?
Knee arthroscopy is a kind of keyhole surgery carried out on inside of your knee joint to both diagnose and treat damage inside the joint. You might elect to undergo the procedure if you have a torn meniscus, torn ACL and other conditions.
Arthroscopy is used to analyze several knee problems, such as, torn meniscus (kneecap), or repair ligaments in joint. Knee problems are accompanied by severe pain which patients must be aware of. Your recuperation time and visualization will rely upon the seriousness of the knee problem and the unpredictability of how long it may last.
Why Prefer Knee arthroscopy?
The following are the major reasons why knee arthroscopy is recommended:
- Torn meniscus. Meniscus is defined as a ligament that pads the space found between the bones in the knee. It can be repaired through Surgery.
- Damaged anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
- Swollen or injured covering of the joint. This coating is known as the synovium.
- Misalignment of the kneecap.
- Small pieces of damaged ligament up the knee joint
- Removal of Baker’s lump. The swelling takes place at the knee where liquid has been filled. Now and then the issue happens if swelling and pain exist for different reasons, similar to joint inflammation
- A few fractures of the knee bones.
How is a Knee Arthroscopy Performed?
Knee arthroscopy is generally performed under broad sedative, though it can be done under spinal anesthesia, or analgesic. During this procedure, antibacterial liquid is used to clean the skin on the affected joint. A small entry point, a couple of millimeters long, is made so that the arthroscope can be inserted. One or more extra cuts will also be made so that an examining test can be done and other fine surgical instruments can be inserted. The Los Angeles orthopedic doctor will fill the joint with a clean liquid to extend it and make it easier for viewing. Doing so will help the doctor see the inside of your joint using a fiberoptic camera. This allows the orthopedic physician to repair existing damage or also shave if indicated.
The Los Angeles knee doctor will further carry out more tests using arthroscope and, if necessary, remove or repair any areas affected with the help of surgical instruments embedded through the entry points. After the procedure, the arthroscope and any other instruments are removed, alongside any excess liquid from the joint.
How does a Knee arthroscopy Relieve Pain?
The doctor recommends that you take your pain management medication at the onset of pain. This will help relieve pain before it becomes acute. You may also prefer to have a nerve block, which is a pain reliever after surgery. Ensure you take the recommended medication to help relieve pain in the nerve.
Are there Risks Associated with Knee arthroscopy?
While knee arthroscopy is highly recommended for treatment of knee injuries, there are a few dangers that patients ought to be aware of. Upon undergoing the knee arthroscopy, patients may experience incidences such as swelling, infection, bleeding, drainage, blood clots to name the key ones. All these should be reported to the doctor so that you can get the best advice on what to do.
Dr. Raj at Beverly Hills Orthopedic Institute is the top knee specialist in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Most insurance is accepted, call (310) 247-0466 today!
