Knee arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat knee joint disorders. During the operation, the surgeon will create a small incision in your knee and insert an arthroscope, a tiny camera, into the joint. This allows him to see the inside of the joint on a screen. The surgeon can then examine the knee and, if necessary, correct the condition using the arthroscope equipment.

Anatomy

Your knee is one of the most complex joints in your body. The bones that make up the knee are the patella, the lower end of the femur and the upper end of the tibia.

Additional basic structures that include the knee joint are:

Articular cartilage. Articular cartilage covers the ends of the femur and tibia, as well as, the back of the patella. As you bend or straighten your leg, this smooth substance allows your knee bones to glide smoothly on top of each other.

Meniscus. Two wedge-shaped parts of the meniscus cartilage act as shock absorbers between the femoral and tibia. The meniscus is strong and elastic, unlike articular cartilage, and helps to absorb and stabilize the joint.

Ligaments. The ligaments connect the bones together. The four main ligaments maintain the stability of your knee.

On both sides of your knee, you will find two collateral ligaments.

The two cruciate ligaments are located inside the knee joint. The anterior cruciate ligament is located in front and the posterior cruciate ligament is located at the back forming an x.

Many knee disorders, such as a damaged meniscus or an out-of-place patella, are diagnosed during arthroscopy. It can also heal joint ligaments. Your recovery period and prognosis will depend on the severity of your knee condition and the complexity of the necessary treatment.

If you have knee pain, your doctor may suggest that you undergo a knee arthroscopy. Although usually an experienced surgeon, with the appropriate imaging tests will be able to confirm the condition, arthroscopy remains a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool for diagnosing and treating knee pain.

Arthroscopic knee surgery can diagnose and treat the following knee injuries:

• Anterior or posterior cruciate ligament rupture
• Damaged meniscus
• Unstable patella
• Free Bodies
• Baker’s bladder resection
• Fractures in the bones of the knee
• Edema of the articular hymen
• Inflammations

Initially, local or total anesthesia is performed. The surgeon will then make a few small incisions in your knee. Saline will be injected into your knee to enlarge it and facilitate the surgeon’s ability to see inside the joint. The arthroscope is inserted through one of the incisions, and the surgeon will examine the joint using the associated arthroscopic camera. The screen in the operating room displays the images produced by the camera, to the surgeon.

When the surgeon identifies the problem with your knee, they will use the arthroscopic tools through the incisions to correct it.

The extent and nature of the problem will also determine the time of the operation, which ranges from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours.

This operation belongs to the category of minimally invasive. Depending on the exact technique, the procedure takes less than an hour for the majority of patients. You will most likely be discharged home on the same day. You should apply an ice pack and a bandage to your knee. Ice will help reduce swelling and relieve pain.

You will, most probably, need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your surgeon, a few days after surgery.

Your doctor will give you an exercise program to perform at home and in combination with a visit to the physiotherapist, to help in a more immediate recovery. Exercises are essential to restore your full range of motion.