Knee Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic (key-hole) surgery allows the surgeon to perform selected procedures through smaller incisions than previously used with traditional “open” surgery. Arthroscopic surgery is also very useful to help diagnose conditions of the knee by allowing the surgeon to visualise the inside of the knee joint.
A camera is passed into the knee joint through a small incision, allowing the surgeon to see the inside of the knee on a display in the operating room in real-time. Other small incisions can be made to allow specially designed instruments (about the width of a pencil) to pass into the knee to perform surgical procedures.
There are many benefits to arthroscopy, including:
- improved ability to diagnose and treat knee conditions in the same procedure
- smaller incisions and faster recovery time for the patient
- Better access to smaller parts of the joint
- Low risk of infection
Here are some operations that can be performed via arthroscopic surgery in the knee:
- ACL reconstruction
- Meniscus resection or repair
- Removal of loose bodies
- Burring away unwanted bone
- Repairing cartilage
- Ligament reconstruction