What is Arthroscopic Knee Surgery?

Arthroscopic knee surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States at nearly 100,000 per year. It offers faster recovery time and less scaring than traditional surgical procedures. If you suffer from a knee injury that has slowed down your lifestyle, arthroscopic surgery may be the answer to get you back on track.

Arthroscopic surgery is a widely popular procedure for diagnosing and treating joint problems that uses the technology of a small camera, called an arthroscope. Because the arthroscope is so small, your surgeon only needs to make a miniscule incision to insert it in the joint area. Once the proper method of repairing the joint is established another incision is made to insert the tools used to shave, trim, cut, stitch or smooth the damaged areas. The arthroscope records video of the joint, which is displayed on a television monitor, allowing the surgeon maximum viewing ability when dealing with the delicate tissue of the joint.

Arthroscopic knee surgery is often performed as an outpatient surgery. You can schedule your procedure and arrive early in the morning, and after a short, closely monitored recovery period, you may return to your home and start on your path to recovery.

The Procedure

During your knee arthroscopy, your surgeon will insert a flexible, drinking straw-sized camera, known as an arthroscope, into your joint through a small incision in your knee. The arthroscope is equipped with a lighting system and camera, which enables the surgeon to view your joint via a television monitor. The magnified view allows for ultimate precision during the surgery.

Once a clear view of the joint is established, the surgeon will insert tiny instruments through other small incisions in the knee area to repair the damage.