Knee arthroscopy
What is knee arthroscopy?
It is a surgery in which a tiny camera called an arthroscope is used to observe the structures of the knee joint. Small incisions are made to insert the camera and small surgical instruments that allow the surgeon to feel, repair, or remove the affected tissue.
Why is it performed?
Arthroscopy gives doctors a clear view of the inside of the knee. This helps them diagnose and treat knee problems for future treatments or perform corrections and preventive repairs before the damage increases or worsens. It is a minimally invasive surgery, so it is recommended for the orthopedic management of different pathologies such as meniscus tears, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries, patellar misalignment, or even removing small fragments of broken cartilage in the knee joint.
How is it performed?
Almost all knee arthroscopic surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure. It can be performed under local, regional, or general anesthesia.
Once the orthopedic surgeon has a clear image of the knee, they will determine if surgical treatment is necessary and proceed to perform it.
Postoperative care
Being a minimally invasive surgery, recovery is faster than open knee surgery, but general care is necessary to achieve the desired results.
- Keep your leg elevated as much as possible during the first few days after surgery.
- Apply ice according to your doctor's recommendations to relieve swelling and pain.
- Keep the incisions and dressings clean and dry.
- Depending on each case, the necessary orthopedic aid (Crutches) will be determined.
- Avoid driving
The orthopedic doctor will provide you with the specific recommendations to follow and the physiotherapeutic management to be carried out.
