The knee is the biggest joint in the human body. Their purpose is to connect the upper and lower legs. Without properly working knees, standing, walking, or keeping your balance is extremely difficult. Individuals who have a torn meniscus, arthritis, cartilage damage, or other knee problems may require arthroscopic knee surgery.
This article will discuss the purpose of arthroscopic knee surgery and what it does. Moreover, it will also help you decide whether or not arthroscopic surgery is right for you.
What is Arthroscopic Surgery?
You may be wondering, what is arthroscopic surgery? Arthroscopic surgery is a surgical technique that allows a surgeon to treat and diagnose various physical ailments.
The process is done by making a small incision in the problem area and inserting a small camera called an arthroscope. This camera will allow the surgeon to look for the cause of the problem. An arthroscope can evaluate your body's movements and can pick up any malformations. Moreover, arthroscopic surgery can be done on feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows, hips, shoulders, and knees.
The decision to have arthroscopic surgery is usually made by you and your doctor. If you are experiencing chronic or acute pain that has not been properly diagnosed, arthroscopic surgery may be right for you.
Overall, arthroscopic knee surgery is one of the most common forms of arthroscopic surgery. Examples of knee injuries that may require arthroscopic surgery include:
- A torn meniscus
- A Baker’s cyst
- A torn anterior or posterior cruciate ligament
- A swollen synovium
- If your patella is not positioned properly
- A fracture of the knee bone
What to Know About Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
Arthroscopic knee surgery is a procedure with a high success rate. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine claims that nearly 700,000 Americans receive arthroscopic knee surgery each year. Additionally, it is considered to be safe and minimally invasive.
While arthroscopic knee surgery is considered to be safe and effective, it’s important to understand the risks. These risk factors are rare but do occur in some patients. Ultimately, 85% to 90% of patients do not experience adverse effects. Possible risks include:
- Infection at the surgical site
- Allergic reaction to medications such as anesthesia
- Difficulties with breathing caused by medications or anesthesia
- Bleeding caused by the procedure
- Bleeding within the knee
- Blood clotting in the leg
- Damage to the meniscus, blood vessels, ligaments, or cartilage in the knee
The Process of Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
If you and your doctor have decided that arthroscopic knee surgery is right for you, it’s helpful to understand what to expect.
The process begins with receiving a local, regional, or general anesthetic. Once your knee and/or surrounding areas are properly numbed, the surgeon will make a series of small cuts in the knee. A saline solution will then be pumped into the knee to expand it. From there, the surgeon will insert a small camera and inspect the knee for potential issues.
Once your ailment is diagnosed, a surgeon may insert other small tools to treat it. After treatment, the saline solution will be drained, and your cuts will be stitched back up.
Need Arthroscopic Knee Surgery? Contact Diablo Foot & Ankle Today
Are you suffering from chronic or acute knee pain due to an injury or aging? Are you in need of medical intervention? When it comes to your body, don’t settle for just any medical team. You need the best of the best. That’s why you should choose Diablo Foot & Ankle today!
Without healthy joints, everyday tasks can feel unbearable. Arthroscopic knee surgery is a way to help individuals diagnose and treat various knee issues. Don’t wait for your knee to get worse. Contact Diablo Foot & Ankle today!
Common Podiatry Questions
What is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the foot and ankle.
What does a Podiatrist treat?
A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the feet. They can treat conditions such as ingrown toenails, fungal toenails, bunions, hammertoes, and plantar fasciitis.
What’s the difference between a Podiatrist and Orthopedist?
A Podiatrist and Orthopedist are very similar to each other in many ways. They use most of the same tools and treat a lot of the same conditions. The main difference between the two is their medical training. Podiatrists are trained exclusively on the foot and ankle, whereas the Orthopedic is trained on the whole body with an additional year of training on the foot and ankle.
Where are your Podiatry clinics located?
At Diablo Foot & Ankle, we treat our foot and ankle patients in two main clinic locations in Walnut Creek and in Antioch California. Dr. Eman Elmi and Dr. Shayan Esspoor are Board Certified Podiatrists who specialize in the treatment of foot and ankle disorders.
