Tag Archive for: Knee Surgery

Knee Arthroscopy

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Your knees help support your weight and let your legs bend and move. Almost any movement that uses your legs relies on your knees — your knees help when you’re walking, running, and jumping. Neglecting a long-term knee injury increases the likelihood of developing degenerative conditions and causing irreversible joint damage. Conditions like osteoarthritis, characterized by the gradual breakdown of joint cartilage, commonly result from untreated knee injuries. Other conditions such as chronic pain, increased risk of further injury, loss of functionality and mobility, degenerative conditions, and emotional distress are among the potential outcomes. Additionally, your surgery options may become more limited if you wait too long, and more significant damage may be caused to your knee, requiring more extensive treatment. It is crucial to seek prompt medical attention, obtain an accurate diagnosis, and follow appropriate treatment strategies. The place to start and ensure the best outcome is the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

OVERVIEW

Knee arthroscopy is a very common minimally invasive surgical procedure. It is one of the most common orthopedic procedures worldwide, with millions performed annually due to its safety and effectiveness. Minimally invasive procedures require smaller incisions (cuts) than traditional surgery. The incisions are about the size of a keyhole. The aim is to confirm exactly what the problem is and for many people, the problem can be treated simultaneously. The benefit of keyhole surgery is less pain afterward and, for some people, a quicker recovery. Knee arthroscopy uses tiny incisions, typically less than a centimeter long, through which a small camera (arthroscope) and instruments are inserted. This reduces trauma to the surrounding tissues compared to open surgery. Arthroscopy can address various knee issues, including meniscus tears, cartilage damage, ligament injuries (e.g., ACL reconstruction), synovitis, and removal of loose bodies or bone spurs. Many athletes undergo knee arthroscopy to quickly diagnose and treat injuries, allowing them to return to sports sooner. High-profile athletes often rely on this procedure to stay competitive. The instruments used in knee arthroscopy are incredibly small but precise, enabling surgeons to perform complex tasks like stitching a torn meniscus or smoothing out cartilage. The arthroscope provides a magnified, high-definition view of the knee joint, allowing surgeons to see structures not visible during open surgery. The term “arthroscopy” comes from the Greek words: arthro (joint) and skopein (to look). It literally means “looking into the joint.” Some joint conditions are not visible on MRIs or X-rays, such as early cartilage wear or subtle meniscal tears. Arthroscopy provides a direct view, making it the gold standard for diagnosing certain knee problems.

ABOUT THE KNEE

The knee is the largest joint in the body. Three bones make up the knee joint:

  • Femur: (thigh bone).
  • Tibia: (shin bone).
  • Patella: (kneecap)

The places these bones meet are called articulations or articulating surfaces. There are two articulations in your knee:

  • Patellofemoral: Where your patella meets your femur.
  • Tibiofemoral: Where your tibia meets your femur.

The knee is a synovial joint. Synovial joints have the most freedom to move. They’re made of a cavity in one bone that another bone fits into. Slippery hyaline cartilage covers the ends of bones that make up a synovial joint. A synovial membrane — a fluid-filled sac that lubricates and protects the joint — lines the space between the bones. This extra cushioning helps synovial joints move with as little friction as possible. Functionally, the knee is a hinge joint.  The knee primarily allows for flexion (bending) and extension (straightening), similar to the motion of a hinge. The knee’s main function is to allow the leg to flex and extend, but it also helps with balance and stabilizing the body. The knee is essential for walking, running, jumping, and other bipedal movements. The knee is one of the most stressed joints in the body, receiving four times the amount of stress for every pound a person weighs. The knees also contain cartilage, like your meniscus and ligaments, including your LCL, MCL, ACL, and PCL.

WHAT IS KNEE ARTHROSCOPY

Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Healthcare providers use knee arthroscopy to diagnose and treat a range of knee injuries. A surgeon makes a small incision and then inserts a long, thin tool with a camera on the end. The camera shows images of the inside of the knee, which helps the healthcare provider make a diagnosis of the injury. The images appear on a screen in the operating room. The surgeon may put other small surgery tools inside your knee through the other cuts. The surgeon will then fix or remove the problem in your knee.

Read more about Knee Arthroscopy on our new Colorado Springs Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Springs Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with a knee specialist today.

Why Should You Consider Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

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Have you or a loved one been battling knee pain that just won’t go away? Have you been to the doctor to determine its cause but haven’t had any luck? If this seems familiar, you may have a condition that can be relieved with arthroscopic knee surgery. During an arthroscopy, your surgeon inserts a flexible tube with a tiny camera through a small incision in the skin, which allows the physician to look in and around the knee joint for potential problems.

Arthroscopic surgery is a way to diagnose and treat a variety of knee issues. Below are some examples of conditions treated with arthroscopic knee surgery:

·       ACL, PCL ligament issues – The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) serve the important role of holding the knee in place. If these ligaments are torn, arthroscopic surgery can fix them.

·       Cartilage issues – Cartilage is a connective tissue that exists between joints in the body. If your cartilage is torn, an arthroscopy can treat it.

·       Bone issues – It’s possible your knee pain is caused by an out-of-place or fractured bone in the knee. This can cause a lot of pain and may require surgery. An arthroscopy can fix a variety of bone issues.

Knee pain can be caused by a variety of reasons and it’s important to figure out what is behind your symptoms. Treating the pain without locating its source is only half the battle. When the cause of your pain is difficult to determine, arthroscopic surgery can be used to visually identify a problem. A diagnosis and fix may be done in the same procedure.

There are many reasons to consider arthroscopic knee surgery.

·       To identify the cause of your knee pain. Arthroscopic surgery is used to not only treat a variety of knee issues but also find the reason behind symptoms. An arthroscopy may be called for when other diagnostic methods fail to identify a cause. In situations like these, arthroscopic knee surgery can figure out the cause and, in many cases, it can fix the issue right then and there.

·       It’s minimally invasive. Arthroscopic surgery is far less invasive than more traditional knee surgeries that involve opening up the knee and cutting through muscles, tendons, and ligaments to access the joint. An arthroscopy is performed using a smaller incision, and results in far less tissue trauma and scarring in the surgery area.

·       Recovery is faster. Because arthroscopic surgery is less invasive, this means that there is a shorter recovery time needed after the surgery. You can get back to your regular routine much quicker than you would after other types of knee surgeries.

If you are experiencing knee pain and want to find a solution to it, it’s important to speak to an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in joint and bone issues and will be able to diagnose and treat your knee pain. Your surgeon will lay out the options to fix your knee problems and will be the best person to identify whether arthroscopic knee surgery is right for you.

The Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence can diagnose and treat your orthopedic issue. We’d love to discuss your treatment options, including arthroscopic knee surgery. Call (719) 623-1050 to make an appointment with one of our highly trained doctors.

Reasons to Consider Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

/in ,

Have you or a loved one been battling knee pain that just won’t go away? Have you been to the doctor to determine its cause but haven’t had any luck? If this seems familiar, you may have a condition that can be relieved with arthroscopic knee surgery. During an arthroscopy, your surgeon inserts a flexible tube with a tiny camera through a small incision in the skin, which allows the physician to look in and around the knee joint for potential problems.

Arthroscopic surgery is a way to diagnose and treat a variety of knee issues. Below are some examples of conditions treated with arthroscopic knee surgery:

·       ACL, PCL ligament issues – The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) serve the important role of holding the knee in place. If these ligaments are torn, arthroscopic surgery can fix them.

·       Cartilage issues – Cartilage is a connective tissue that exists between joints in the body. If your cartilage is torn, an arthroscopy can treat it.

·       Bone issues – It’s possible your knee pain is caused by an out-of-place or fractured bone in the knee. This can cause a lot of pain and may require surgery. An arthroscopy can fix a variety of bone issues.

Knee pain can be caused by a variety of reasons and it’s important to figure out what is behind your symptoms. Treating the pain without locating its source is only half the battle. When the cause of your pain is difficult to determine, arthroscopic surgery can be used to visually identify a problem. A diagnosis and fix may be done in the same procedure.

There are many reasons to consider arthroscopic knee surgery.

·       To identify the cause of your knee pain. Arthroscopic surgery is used to not only treat a variety of knee issues but also find the reason behind symptoms. An arthroscopy may be called for when other diagnostic methods fail to identify a cause. In situations like these, arthroscopic knee surgery can figure out the cause and, in many cases, it can fix the issue right then and there.

·       It’s minimally invasive. Arthroscopic surgery is far less invasive than more traditional knee surgeries that involve opening up the knee and cutting through muscles, tendons, and ligaments to access the joint. An arthroscopy is performed using a smaller incision and results in far less tissue trauma and scarring in the surgery area.

·       Recovery is faster. Because arthroscopic surgery is less invasive, this means that there is a shorter recovery time needed after the surgery. You can get back to your regular routine much quicker than you would after other types of knee surgeries.

If you are experiencing knee pain and want to find a solution to it, it’s important to speak to an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in joint and bone issues and will be able to diagnose and treat your knee pain. Your surgeon will lay out the options to fix your knee problems and will be the best person to identify whether arthroscopic knee surgery is right for you.

The Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence can diagnose and treat your orthopedic issue. We’d love to discuss your treatment options, including arthroscopic knee surgery. Call (719) 623-1050 to make an appointment with one of our highly trained doctors.