Knee Arthroscopy: Reasons, Procedure and Post-operative care
The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex joints in the human body. At this joint, the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and the patella are connected to, giving the joint its structure and offering the various degrees of freedom. Around the structure, there are multiple ligaments and cartilaginous structures that provide additional strength.
Knee arthroscopy is a procedure that allows a surgeon to investigate a person’s knee joint with making a big cut.
Here, the arthroscope is used to diagnose and treat any problems. During the arthroscopy, the surgeon inserts a small camera attached to the arthroscope into the joint. The arthroscope is connected to a display monitor, which shows the internal anatomical structures. Attached to this arthroscope can be small surgical instruments that the surgeon can use to fix the underlying problem.
Read more about: Knee Arthritis Epidemic in India.
Who needs a Knee Arthroscopy? Or complete replacement
Arthroscopy is performed on individuals to treat:
- Torn ligaments
- Torn meniscus (cartilage between the bones)
- Re-positioning patella
- Fractures in the knee bone
- Repair torn cartilage
- Baker’s cyst removal
A person is subjected to a complete knee replacement when their existing apparatus cannot function efficiently or damaged beyond repair. Knee replacements are generally suggested to older people whose joints have worn out or to those who have broken their knee in some sort of an accident.
Read more about: Osteoarthritis: the degenerative disorder
What to do before, and what happens during the surgery?
Before the knee surgery, the patient needs to refrain from taking any medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Inform the doctor about any prescribed medicines that the patient must take daily, such as those for life-sustaining reasons. One should also refrain from eating or drinking up to 12 hours before the procedure.
Read more: Joint Replacement Hospitals in India
The procedure requires administration of anesthesia – local (to numb the knee), regional (to numb the lower body), or general (to put you to sleep), depending upon the requirement. If you choose to stay awake, you might get to watch the arthroscopic surgery on the monitor. The surgeon would start by making small incisions on your knee and filing them with a saline solution, which would expand the knee and make it easier for the doctor to envisage inside. Arthroscopy would be performed by inserting instruments through these cuts and thus be minimally invasive.
There are certain risks associated with any kind of procedure, no matter how minimal it is. There is always a risk of bleeding, infection at the surgical site, a problem in breathing due to anesthesia, and allergic reactions with medications. The patient can also bleed into the knee post-surgery, form a blood clot, or develop an infection in the joint. The patient is kept under observation after the surgical procedure, usually for one week.
Precautions after procedure
After the arthroscopy, the patient is given rehabilitative care in the hospital by the physiotherapist. Wherein he is trained to gradually bring back the function of the repaired knee without stressing it out. The patient should apply ice packs to the site and its surroundings to reduce the inflammation. The knee should be kept at an elevated level to avoid any excess strain on it. The dressing should be changed regularly as per the doctor’s guidelines and using crutches in the initial few weeks not to put excess weight on the healing knee.
Exercises, as suggested by the physiotherapist, are of utmost importance as they tend to gradually restore the strength and range of motion for the knee. Patients should not drive in the first couple of weeks post-surgery as it puts a strain on the joint and can make the healing process more painful and prolonged. People with the severely damaged knee cannot get back the full use of their knee, although they can still perform all the regular activities. Such patients should not participate in any high strenuous load-bearing activities such as running or jumping.
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