What is Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure during which the internal structure of a joint is examined for diagnosis and treatment of problems inside the joint. In an arthroscopic examination, a small incision is made in the patient’s skin through which pencil-sized instruments that have a small lens and lighting system (arthroscope) are passed. Arthroscope magnifies and illuminates the structures of the joint with the light that is transmitted through fibre optics. It is attached to a television camera and the interior of the joint is seen on the television monitor. Arthroscopy means “to look inside the joint” in Greek. It’s the most common method of orthopaedic surgery today, thanks to advances in technology during the 20th century. Arthroscopy is one of the two most significant advances in orthopaedic surgery in the last century — the other being joint replacement.

Arthroscopic examination of joints is helpful in diagnosis and treatment of the following conditions:

• Inflammation: Synovitis, the inflammation of the lining of the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or ankle
• Acute or chronic injury: Injuries to the shoulder, knee and wrist joint such as cartilage tears, tendon tears, carpal tunnel syndrome
• Osteoarthritis: A type of arthritis caused by cartilage loss in a joint
• Removal of loose bodies of bone or cartilage that becomes logged within the joint

During arthroscopic surgery, either a general, spinal or local anaesthesia will be given depending on the condition. A small incision of the size of a buttonhole is made through which the arthroscope is inserted. Other accessory incisions will be made through which specially designed instruments are inserted. After the procedure is completed arthroscope is removed and incisions are closed. Some of the possible complications after arthroscopy include infection, phlebitis (clotting of blood in vein), excessive swelling, bleeding, blood vessel or nerve damage and instrument breakage.

BENEFITS OF ARTHROSCOPY?

The advantages of arthroscopy compared to traditional open surgery include:

• Smaller incisions
• Minimal soft tissue trauma
• Less post-operative pain
• Faster healing time
• Lower infection rate

Arthroscopic surgery has several key benefits:

Less swelling and inflammation

An arthroscopic procedure makes very small incisions versus ‘open’ surgery, which may require larger openings in the skin. Because less soft tissue is exposed to trauma, you have less swelling, less inflammation, and less pain than with open surgery.

Faster healing

You’ll have tiny wounds versus bigger ones. In some cases, within a day or two after surgery, you may be able to remove the bandages and cover the incisions with small sterilized strips with adhesive around them. On the other hand, open surgery is characterized by larger wounds that need more care and more trips to the doctor.

Lower risk of complications

Before arthroscopy was developed, joint surgery required prolonged joint exposure during the procedure, which increased the risk of infection. It also increased the chance of arthrofibrosis, in which scar tissue forms as a response to the trauma of the surgery. The scar tissue restricts the range of motion, causing pain whenever you move the tissue or joint.

Better return to function

Before the development of arthroscopic surgery, injuries involving joints often ended a professional athlete’s career. Now patiensts usually return to the field after time off.

Outpatient surgical setting

Many arthroscopic surgeries can be conducted in an outpatient setting--usually a surgical centre, but sometimes within the surgeon’s offices. Open surgery also almost always requires a hospital setting.

Arthroscopy is the minimally-invasive surgical procedure that allows your orthopaedics surgeon to see, diagnose, and treat your joint or soft tissue injury. Your surgeon makes a tiny cut and introduces small instruments containing a special camera and light into the area near the injury. The camera magnifies the area to be treated and projects an image of the injured site onto a large screen. If you have a knee injury, for example, your surgeon can see the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage under and around the entire kneecap, and can repair the damage in one operation.