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Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment and diagnosis of joint conditions. This procedure may not be suitable for people with certain conditions, such as arthritis.
Read on to learn more about arthroscopic surgery, what to expect, possible risks, and more.
Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure that begins with the surgeon making multiple small incisions in the vicinity of a joint.
This permits the introduction of an irrigation canula, a microinstrument portal, and a device called an arthroscope into the joint space. An arthroscope is a long, thin tube that is roughly the size of a pencil.
An arthroscope has a light and a camera attached to it, which helps the surgeon better see inside the person’s joint.
Arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive as it only requires a small incision. This means a person may have a shorter recovery time and experience less postoperative pain than with a more invasive operation.
A surgeon can use the camera on the arthroscope to get a close-up view of a person’s joint. This allows them to accurately diagnose any issues in the area.
Surgeons originally only used arthroscopic surgery as a diagnostic tool. However, medical advances allow surgeons to use this procedure to treat certain joint conditions.
Arthroscopic surgery can be beneficial for several different conditions. However, healthcare professionals do not recommend this surgery for people with certain health issues.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, current information states that people with osteoarthritis and some other degenerative knee conditions should not receive arthroscopic surgery.
Researchers have found that this type of surgery does not benefit the majority of people with osteoarthritis.
Before having arthroscopic surgery, a doctor will assess a person’s health. This helps ensure the person has no underlying conditions that may interfere with the procedure.
During arthroscopic surgery, the surgeon will first clean the area they will operate on.
They then create multiple small incisions about the size of a buttonhole, into the affected joint. Additional incisions may be necessary to allow the surgeon to look at other parts of the joint.
Once a surgeon has used the arthroscope to diagnose the joint issue, they can begin treatment if required. A surgeon may create additional openings to insert any surgical tools necessary, such as scissors and forceps.
After
After the surgeon has completed the arthroscopic surgery, they may close the incisions with stitches or small adhesive strips.
The surgeon covers the operative site with sterile dressings and wraps the entire joint with a stretchy compression bandage to reduce postoperative inflammation.
Medical professionals can then move the person to a recovery room.
In the recovery room, a person may receive an ice pack to put on the surgery site. This can help reduce pain or swelling. Medical staff may also elevate the area that received the surgery, such as the leg.
A person should be able to return home the same day as their surgical procedure. However, they should not drive after surgery.
There is also a risk of instrument breakage with this surgery. Instrument breakage is when a surgeon’s tool breaks inside a person’s body. If this occurs, the surgeon will carefully remove any pieces of the instrument from the area.
If a person has diagnostic arthroscopic surgery, their surgeon may be able to diagnose their condition during the surgery. The surgeon can then discuss a person’s condition with them or let them know if they require further testing.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) states that it can take several days for a person’s incisions to heal.
Healing time for the joint can depend on the type of surgery a person received. It may take several weeks for a person to fully recover.
The AAOS notes that a person who has had knee arthroscopy should be able to do most physical activities after 6–8 weeks.
However, this may be longer for people who have had:
After arthroscopic surgery, a surgeon will give a person instructions on how to care for the surgery site. This can involve:
keeping the area clean and dry for the next 24 hours
using a protective dressing when taking a shower
avoiding soaking the area in water
A healthcare professional may give a person pain medication after surgery. If a person has had surgery on their knee or foot, they may require crutches.
A healthcare professional may provide a person with a list of exercises to help with recovery and joint function.
This section answers some commonly asked questions about arthroscopic surgery.
Is arthroscopy surgery painful?
Arthroscopic surgery itself is painless. The AAOS notes that the postoperative pain from arthroscopic surgery is minimal. However, a person may still benefit from pain medication or ice packs.
How long does an arthroscopy take?
The length of time arthroscopy takes can depend on the type of surgery.
Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure surgeons use to diagnose and treat joint conditions.
During arthroscopy, the surgeon creates multiple small incisions in the vicinity of a joint to permit the introduction of the arthroscope and other instruments into the joint space.
Surgeons can also use arthroscopy to treat various joint conditions. However, medical professionals do not recommend it for people with osteoarthritis or certain other degenerative knee conditions.
Arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive and can have a healing time of a few weeks. However, this can depend on the type of surgery a person has. Some forms of arthroscopy can take longer to heal than others.
Following arthroscopy, a person should follow the instructions their surgeon gives them. This can help improve recovery and joint mobility.
If a person notices any signs of serious complications after arthroscopy, such as excessive pain or fever, they should seek immediate medical attention.
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