Knee arthroscopy uses minimally invasive techniques that enable surgeons to view the inside of a painful or dysfunctional joint and make any necessary repairs. At Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa, the fellowship-trained specialists are experienced in the use of arthroscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of joint conditions. They have the knowledge and experience to find the cause of your condition and treat it without having to perform open surgery. To learn more about knee arthroscopy and its benefits, call the office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, or book an appointment online today.
Knee arthroscopy is a common procedure used to diagnose and treat joint problems. The word arthroscopy comes from the Greek words arthro (joint) and scope (look), so arthroscopy simply means looking inside a joint.
The primary tool that the skilled, experienced surgeons at Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa use is the arthroscope.
This small, fiber-optic viewing instrument with a light source, miniature lens, and video camera goes into the knee through a small incision of about one-quarter of an inch. It projects images of the inside of your knee onto a monitor, so your surgeon can look deep inside.
By making one or more additional incisions called portals, your surgeon can insert tiny, specially designed arthroscopic instruments. While they look small to the naked eye, these instruments appear much larger when your surgeon views them through an arthroscope.
Your surgeon also introduces fluid into the knee to improve visibility and make it easier to maneuver the arthroscopic instruments and remove any debris.
You might need to undergo knee arthroscopy if your surgeon has to examine the joint in more detail for an accurate diagnosis or they have to perform repairs to the joint.
Your knee is the biggest hinge joint in your body, consisting of a complex system of bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage (including menisci), and other structures.
Knees frequently suffer injuries, but pain and dysfunction can arise from a variety of other causes, including congenital abnormalities (problems present at birth), infections, overuse, and degenerative conditions.
Using knee arthroscopy, your surgeon can:
Few advances in surgical technology have been as beneficial as the development of arthroscopy.
Knee arthroscopy is less traumatic for the muscles, ligaments, and other tissues than arthrotomy (using long incisions to open up the knee and view the inside directly).
This minimally invasive approach offers several benefits, including:
Knee arthroscopy is usually an outpatient procedure, so you return home the same day as your operation. In addition to knee arthroscopy, Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa can also use arthroscopic techniques to examine and treat shoulders, ankles, elbows, wrists, and hips.
If you have knee pain or problems using your knees, call Premier Orthopedic Specialists of Tulsa to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
