Description of Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
Arthroscopic knee surgery has become the most common type of knee surgery in the orthopedic field. By reducing the size of the incision needed to perform most surgeries, doctors are shortening healing time and increasing recovery rates. While most people have some idea of what an arthroscopic knee surgery entails, few know the actual details of the procedure. This article will give you a description of an orthopedic surgery.
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Irrigation
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Once the patient has been put to sleep and is properly prepared for the surgeon, the first incision is made, usually above the knee. A hollow tube is inserted into the knee joint and flushes it with a sterile saline solution to create a space where the camera, and surgeons, can see the inside of the joint.
Camera
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A second incision is made somewhere on the side of or below the kneecap, another tube is inserted into the now-flooded knee joint and a camera on a fine wire is pushed through and into the joint. The camera has a light mounted on it, and the video image is transferred to a monitor above the operating table. The surgeon watches this monitor and operates from its imagery. Using the camera as his eyes, the surgeon now has access to all parts of the knee joint without needing to cut into it.
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Tools
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Usually a third incision is made and another tube inserted so that surgeons can put various instruments into the knee joint and perform the needed repairs. With today's technology and the skills of modern surgeons, very complex repairs can be made using just these three small incisions, as everything from cartilage trimming to fracture repair can be done arthroscopically.
Finishing Up
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Once the surgery is complete, the tools are pulled out, then the camera, and finally the irrigation tube. The knee is squeezed to expel any extra fluid, and the incisions are closed with sutures or butterfly stitches. The knee is wrapped in sterile bandages, and a compression wrap, such as an Ace bandage, is applied to help limit swelling. In some cases, a compression stocking is also applied.
Recovery
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The patient is then wheeled into recovery and brought out of anesthesia. Once she has sufficiently shown she can drink and pass fluids, she is typically sent home to continue her healing and begin rehabilitation. Most arthroscopic surgeries take anywhere from 30 minutes to just over an hour.
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References
- Photo Credit Courtesy of Orthopedics.com
