Arthroscopy: Reasons, Procedure and Benefits

Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement | Posted on 01/19/2022 by Dr. Hitesh Joshi

Introduction

Are you tired of popping those painkillers every day due to joint problems and chronic knee pain? If you have joint issues, you must consider booking an appointment with the best arthroscopic surgeon in Jaipur, at CK Birla Hospitals. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical method that assists in diagnosing and treating joint issues. This is a medical procedure involved in diagnosing and treating problems linked to joints. Arthroscopy surgery permits surgeons to view internal structures and access them without the requirement for open surgery. This surgical procedure offers benefits like less pain, quick recovery, and improved patient outcomes.

In this blog, we are going to explore the reasons why arthroscopy surgery is recommended and everything that’s related to arthroscopy. However, kindly understand that this write-up is for informative purposes only and we do not construe the consultation of a healthcare professional.

What is Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a surgical technique in which a tube-like instrument is inserted into a joint to inspect, diagnose, and repair tissues. Arthroscopy is advised if you have inflammation in a joint, in cases of injury or trauma to a joint, or have damaged a joint due to wear and tear. You can have arthroscopy on any joint. Most often, it’s done on the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, or wrist.

What are the benefits of Arthroscopy Surgery?

While every surgery is different and every person responds to surgery differently, arthroscopic surgery tends to have many advantages over traditional surgery.

• Lesser complications: Since arthroscopy uses tiny incisions instead of large cuts, the chance of infection or other complications is much less.
• Less post-operative pain: No muscles or tendons must be cut to repair the joint, so pain is usually much more manageable. Fewer cuts also mean that recovery goes much quicker.
• There is less scarring: The minimally invasive nature of arthroscopic surgery means that scarring is kept to a minimum.
• Recovering from arthroscopy is usually quicker than recovering from open surgery.
• Most people leave the hospital on the day of the operation with specific instructions about how to handle recovery. Arthroscopically treated patients tend to heal faster and begin rehabilitation earlier and, subsequently, return to normal activity and work sooner.

What are the types of Arthroscopy Surgery?

Surgeons involve the use of arthroscopy to view the joints inside without needing to make any large incisions. Here are some of the types of arthroscopy:

• Hip arthroscopy
• Shoulder arthroscopy
• Elbow arthroscopy
• Foot and ankle arthroscopy
• Hand and wrist arthroscopy
• Elbow arthroscopy

Why is Arthroscopy Surgery recommended?

Certain reasons are there that increase the need for arthroscopy surgery. Here are these reasons:

• Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.
• Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs in some people with high levels of uric acid in their blood.
• Septic Arthritis – a condition in which a joint becomes infected,
• Viral Arthritis – arthritis due to viral infection
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – RA is a chronic, autoimmune disease
• Spondylarthritis – An inflammatory rheumatic disease
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – joint inflammation, especially of the knees, wrists, and finger joints, is common in systemic lupus erythematosus
• Fibromyalgia – The predominant symptom of fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, is widespread muscle tenderness, along with crippling fatigue.
• Hemarthrosis – A bleeding into a joint due to several reasons including trauma.

What conditions can be treated with Arthroscopy Surgery?

Arthroscopic surgery can treat inflammation, torn ligaments, and tendons, loose bones, or cartilage issues. If you have a joint issue, there is a good chance arthroscopic surgery can diagnose and treat it. While knee and shoulder arthroscopies are the most common surgeries, the procedure can be performed on any joint. It can be used to treat conditions of knees, shoulders, ankles, elbows, wrists like:

• Tendonitis Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Frozen shoulder
• Cartilage damage
• Bone spurs
• Arthrofibrosis
• Ganglion cysts
• Ligament injury
• Fractures

How does the preparation and procedure of Arthroscopy look like?

Many doctors often recommend a tailored preparation plan, which includes gentle exercises and medications. The patient may need to stop eating up to 12 hours before the procedure, especially if general anesthesia has to be applied. For a better understanding of the arthroscopy procedure, have a look at both preparation and method:

• The type of anesthetic used to numb pain will depend on the extent of the arthroscopy.
• A doctor may inject a local anesthetic to numb the affected joint. In some cases, doctors will use a general anesthetic. In this case, the person will be completely asleep during the procedure
• The procedure starts with a few small cuts in the joint. Surgeons use a pump to push the saline solution into the area. This will expand the joint, making it easier for the doctors to view the affected area and operate it with ease
• The patient is placed supine with the ability to flex the joint.
• The medical team places a tourniquet (important for safety, but often not inflated).
• The doctors then make an anterolateral incision over a soft spot of the joint. Vertical incisions have the advantage of increased superior-inferior mobility of instruments and horizontal incisions have the advantage of increased medial-lateral mobility of instruments.
• Next, the doctors insert a trocar into a capsule
• Advance blade into the capsule with the trocar
• Advance trochar into the suprapatellar pouch to strengthen or fix the joint

What are the tips to recover after Arthroscopy Surgery?

Here are some of the tips that you can follow after arthroscopy surgery to recover:

• Applying ice packs to the dressing and surrounding area to reduce swelling and pain
• Keeping the leg elevated for several days after surgery
• Resting well and often
• Changing the dressing regularly
• Using crutches and following the doctor’s recommendations about applying weight to the knee.

Conclusion

A secure and proficient method for clinical professionals to evaluate and treat joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons is through arthroscopy. Compared to other surgeries, these procedures involve fewer incisions to treat all types of joint and ligament issues, leading to quicker recovery and less pain and scarring. If you are recommended for arthroscopy surgery, then make sure to work with your doctor as they can guide you in a better way.

Faqs

 

Is arthroscopy safe?

Yes, arthroscopy surgery is a completely safe and secure method if performed by a skilled and expert surgeon in the right settings. However, it is important to know that there are risks like infection or injury like any other surgical method.

Does insurance cover arthroscopy?

Insurance coverage for arthroscopy relies on the particular policy and clinical requirement, it is usually covered if considered necessary clinically.

Can arthroscopy help arthritis?

Arthroscopy offers symptomatic relief for some arthritis types by damaged tissue removal, however, it doesn’t cure arthritis or reverse its growth.

What are the complications of arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy complications involve blood clots, infection, nerve or blood vessel damage, consistent pain, and injury to tissues around, however, these are comparatively rare with expert surgeons.

Can arthroscopy make arthritis worse?

Arthroscopy usually doesn’t deteriorate arthritis, although, it doesn’t improve symptoms in severe cases. It is important to assess the case essentially as overuse or inadequate procedures can aggravate joint damage.

What are the dos and don'ts after knee arthroscopy?

Following knee arthroscopy, elevating the knee, resting, and adhering to physical therapy instructions are dos of an arthroscopy procedure. Make sure to avoid heavy lifting, high-impact activities, and rehabilitation neglect. For the finest chance of recovery, seriously follow the post-operative instructions.

What is the recovery time for an arthroscopy?

An arthroscopy surgery recovery time depends from weeks to several months considering the procedure and patient response to healing.