Arthroscopic Surgery
Arthroscopy has revolutionized
the treatment of joint injuries.
In the past, treatment of orthopedic injuries involved extensive surgery, including large incisions, a hospital stay, and a prolonged recovery period.
But today, with the help of an arthroscope, today's orthopedic surgeon can easily examine, diagnose, and treat problems in the joint that previously may have been difficult to identify.
The arthroscope is a small fiber-optic viewing instrument made up of a tiny lens, light source and video camera.
The surgical
instruments used in arthroscopic surgery are very small (only 3
or 4 mm in diameter), but appear much larger when viewed through
an arthroscope. Shown at right
-- both as it appears on the operating table and when viewed arthroscopically
-- is a probe, used for examination of internal structures (in this
case the underside of a patella, or kneecap).
The surgeon
inserts the arthroscope into the joint through a tiny incision (about
1/4 of an inch) called a portal. Two or three incisions may
be made for portals. Other portals are used for the insertion of
surgical instruments, such as the probe shown above. Typical incision
sites and sizes for knee arthroscopy are shown at left. These incisions
result in very small scars which in many cases are unnoticeable.
With small incision sites and direct access to most areas of the joint, an arthroscopic surgeon can diagnose and surgically correct a vast array of joint problems such as arthritis and ligament tears.
For example, almost any region of the knee may be treated arthroscopically. A normal meniscus -- shown left -- appears
through the arthroscope appears as a smooth, white wedge-shaped structure. The video clip below shows a brief portion of an arthroscopic meniscal repair.
Arthroscopic surgery is not limited to the knee: also common is arthroscopy of the shoulder, ankle, wrist, elbow, and hip. Great Scot! There's even arthroscopy of the Great Toe!
To understand the entire process of arthroscopic surgery from the patient's perspective, take a look at this video: A Patient's Guide to Arthroscopic Surgery >