Arthroscopic Knee Surgery Specialist Q&A

Knee arthroscopy is a surgical technique that is commonly used to identify, diagnose, and treat conditions that are affecting the knee joint and/or its surrounding structures.

During this procedure, you will be under a local, spinal, or general anesthetic to eliminate any discomfort. Following this, your surgeon will make a small incision in the area for the arthroscope (which is a small surgical tool with a tiny camera attached to it) to be guided into. The camera projects internal images onto a nearby screen, allowing the practitioner to view the internal structures in real time. Through the arthroscope, the surgeon can investigate problems in the knee, identify them, and even correct them using the surgical function of the tool itself.

Arthroscopy can address knee conditions such as a torn meniscus, or a misaligned kneecap, and repair joint ligaments.

Your attending physician may order you to go in for knee arthroscopy if you’re experiencing knee pain and/or discomfort that hasn’t dissipated with rest or hasn’t improved via other treatment measures.

Arthroscopy can be used to identify and confirm the cause of knee problems but can also be used to treat conditions such as:

• A patella that’s moved out of position.
• Baker’s cysts.
• Fractures in the knee bone(s).
• Swollen joint lining.
• Torn anterior ligaments.
• Torn cartilage that is loose in the joint.
• Torn meniscus.
• Torn posterior cruciate ligaments.

Arthroscopy can be used to identify and confirm joint problems, examine joint injuries more thoroughly, and/or treat knee conditions that are causing pain and discomfort. While this is an impressive procedure on its own, arthroscopy also provides additional advantages such as:

• Minimal wait time to treat and diagnose knee conditions. Damage and injuries can be treated as soon as they’re diagnosed, eliminating long waiting periods between conditions being identified and addressed.

• Low risk, as arthroscopy typically has very few side effects and is received very well by the majority of patients. While recovery time may vary depending on the complexity of your procedure, the risk of negative outcomes is very minimal.

• Being minimally invasive. Also known as keyhole surgery, knee arthroscopy only requires the use of one tiny instrument and 1-3 small incisions along the knee. Depending on the complexity of the procedure, the patient may only need to go under a local or spinal anesthetic while this type of surgery is being performed.

• Less stress on the body when compared to open surgery. Healthy joint structures are minimally affected or not affected at all, which means the pain a patient feels after arthroscopy is typically milder.

• Less pain and quick recovery, as this type of procedure isn’t invasive and can typically be completed in under an hour. It is a same-day procedure, meaning you won’t need to stay overnight in the hospital. Instead, you’ll be able to recover in the comfort of your own home, using ice packs and medication to manage any residual discomfort and/or swelling.

Knee arthroscopy may be an option for patients that experience chronic knee pain and/or limited knee function that affects their mobility.

Healthcare providers will typically prescribe non-surgical treatment options first to see if they can help improve your condition. However, if your knee condition doesn’t respond (or doesn’t respond enough) to non-operative treatments, knee arthroscopy may be the next suggested route.

If you have questions about knee arthroscopy and whether it may be the right treatment for you, contact us at The Orthopedic Group. We would be happy to discuss your concerns and address any questions that you may have so that you can feel confident moving forward with your medical care. Call us today or schedule an appointment with one of our knee specialists online at your earliest convenience. We serve patients from Leesburg VA, Lansdowne VA, Stone Springs VA, Dulles, VA, Ashburn VA, Sterling VA, Aldie VA, South Riding VA, Herndon VA, Winchester VA, Reston VA, Chantilly VA, and nearby areas!