Arthroscopic knee surgery or knee arthroscopy is used to treat pain in the knee joint. This surgery involves inserting a small camera into the joint through an incision. A few more slits are made to insert the surgical equipment and repair the damaged area.
A Katy knee arthroscopy specialist can guide you with all the steps involved in the procedure, the process’s side effects, and the outcomes. This is a minimally invasive technique and causes no harm to any of the surrounding structures.
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Reasons to Have a Knee Arthroscopy
If you have been diagnosed with the conditions mentioned below, then you may need a knee arthroscopy.
- Torn cartilage- This is also known as meniscus surgery ( meniscectomy). This involves removing a part of torn meniscus cartilage. Meniscus cartilage is a shock absorber and is present between the bone ends to provide support and cushioning.
- Meniscus repair- This surgery is done to repair the damaged meniscus. The meniscus has a limited blood supply, so a total recovery cannot be expected. Moreover, a complete meniscus repair is not always possible.
- Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction ( ACL reconstruction)- ACL is a major knee ligament, and it is essential for knee stability. Injured or damaged ACLs can be treated arthroscopically.
- Plica extension- Plica is a remnant of fetal development. The knee in fetal life is divided into compartments by dividers. These dividers fade over time, but some do not. When this remnant is prominent, we call it a plica. Plica can irritate surrounding structures (plica syndrome). Plica can be removed with arthroscopic surgery.
- Microfracture- In case of damaged cartilages, cells from bone marrow are used to replace them. This procedure stimulates the body to produce new cartilage in the area of torn or damaged cartilage.
- Lateral release- A lateral release is used to loosen the kneecap that pulls the kneecap outside the groove. The kneecap moves (up and down) along the end of the thigh bone in a groove of cartilage.
- Cartilage transfer- This process involves moving cartilage to the damaged areas.
- Removing Baker’s cyst- When synovial fluid accumulates in the knee joint, it forms a fluid-filled cyst called Baker’s cyst. These can be removed through arthroscopy.
- Fractures in knee bones- Arthroscopy is a less invasive procedure and can treat fractures efficiently.
Knee arthroscopy is a relatively safer procedure. It has a few risks that include excessive bleeding during the process, formation of blood clots, or infection at the surgical site. These can usually be under control.
Your doctor may advise you on the right choice for the knee pain; often, simple exercises are helpful and may not require surgery.