Knee arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy - benefits

Performing the procedure arthroscopically, i.e. without having to surgically "open" the joint, is associated with numerous benefits for the patient. Among the most significant are:

• less pain in the post-operative period,
• faster return to physical activity,
• lower risk of infection.

The knee is the largest and one of the more biomechanically complex joints. It is formed by connections between three bones - the femur, tibia and patella. The articular surfaces in a healthy knee are covered with cartilage, which allows free gliding during flexion and extension movements. Physiologically, the knee is filled with a small amount of fluid, which is produced by the synovial membrane lining the joint. The fluid reduces friction between joint surfaces and nourishes the cartilage. The medial and lateral meniscuses are responsible for cushioning. These are two crescent-shaped formations that resemble rubber in structure. Extremely important "parts" of the knee are ligaments - these are strong "belts" that connect the bones between each other. We have several of them, but the most important are four - the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. Ligaments are responsible for the stability of the knee-their tightening in different phases of movement allows the knee to function properly and protects the joint from "falling out".

The most common indications for knee arthroscopy surgery

• meniscus damage - may require suturing or partial excision of degenerated tissue,
• ligament damage - may require suturing (known as internal bracing) or reconstructive procedures using the patient's own tissues or allografts (grafts taken from a cadaver and properly prepared),
• damage to articular cartilage - may require debridement, covering with special membranes or cartilage-bone grafts,
• presence of free bodies - most often require removal.

The basis for qualifying a patient for knee arthroscopy is a visit to an orthopedic surgeon. During such an appointment, a thorough history will be taken - the doctor will ask about the ailments present - their duration, their relationship to any trauma or strain, whether they are accompanied by other worrying symptoms. Then the doctor will examine the knee, very often already at this stage will determine the preliminary diagnosis. Usually, in order to confirm the diagnosis and exclude other potential sources of discomfort, additional tests will be ordered - in the case of the knee, these will most often be imaging tests - X-ray, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging. The patient, once qualified for knee arthroscopy, requires appropriate preparation. In the case of an unencumbered patient, the necessary minimum is to perform basic laboratory tests (blood count, check of clotting parameters and blood group) and meet with the anesthesiologist.

Knee arthroscopy is performed in an operating room setting under regional or general anesthesia. The patient is placed on the operating table in a supine position. The operated knee is placed on a special support. The surgical field will be thoroughly washed and protected with a sterile drape to minimize the risk of infection. The procedure can be divided into a diagnostic part, during which the orthopedist will carefully examine the knee "from the inside" in order to confirm or exclude the diagnosis made earlier, and a therapeutic part, aimed at repairing or removing damaged joint structures. The operation, depending on the complexity of the damage found, can last from several minutes, to about 2 hours. In the vast majority of cases, the patient remains in the hospital until the next day.

Pain after arthroscopic knee procedures is much less severe than after classic procedures with opening of the joint. In most patients, pain can be relieved with generally available painkillers. In the case of more severe discomfort, the doctor will prescribe stronger drugs.
The course of the postoperative period depends strictly on the type of surgery performed. This applies especially to the need to relieve pressure on the operated limb (time of movement with the help of elbow crutches), the duration of rehabilitation and return to physical activity, and sometimes the need for periodic immobilization of the joint. Most questions regarding these issues can still be answered at the stage of qualifying the patient for surgery.

Where to perform knee arthroscopy?

You can have a knee arthroscopy performed at a Rehasport facility of your choice in Poznan, Warsaw, Gdansk and Konin. Make an appointment with one of our orthopedists, who will offer you a safe and effective treatment. Knee arthroscopy Warsaw, Poznan, Gdansk.

Related articles:

Learn about other possible injuries and contusions of the knee joint.

Bibliography:

• Katz JN, Brophy RH, Chaisson CE, et al. Surgery versus physical therapy for a meniscal tear and osteoarthritis. N Engl J Med 2013;368:1675-1684
• Kim S, Bosque J, Meehan JP, Jamali A, Marder R. Increase in outpatient knee arthroscopy in the United States: A comparison of national surveys of ambulatory surgery, 1996 and 2006. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2011;93:994e1000.
• Sihvonen R, Paavola M, Malmivaara A, et al. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus sham surgery for a degenerative meniscal tear. N Engl J Med 2013;369:2515-2524.
• Adachi N, Ochi M, Uchio Y, Iwasa J, Kuriwaka M, Ito Y. Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2004;86-B:515-520.