What To Expect When You Have Arthroscopic Surgery To Repair A Knee Injury
If you've had a knee injury that damaged the bone or cartilage in your joint, your doctor may recommend arthroscopic surgery to make repairs and relieve pain. Arthroscopic surgery is much less invasive than open-knee surgery, but it is still a medical procedure that may take a few weeks to recover from. Here are a few things you may want to know about arthroscopic knee surgery.
How Arthroscopic Surgery Works
To perform this type of knee surgery, the orthopedic surgeon makes tiny incisions over your knee that are large enough to pass a small scope and surgical instruments through. There is no need for a large incision that opens the tissue of your knee so the surgeon
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This helps him or her identify the problem. If you have bits of bone or cartilage floating around your joint space, they can be removed with instruments inserted through another incision. The surgeon is even able to trim broken cartilage pieces and make repairs to the injured parts of your knee.
Local Anesthesia May Be Possible
When you have a knee arthroscopy, you may not need general anesthesia. Other choices include a local anesthetic that numbs your knee only, and a regional anesthetic that numbs your body from the waist down. Having a local or regional anesthetic eliminates the risks associated with general anesthesia, and as an added benefit, you can watch the procedure on the screen along with the surgeon if you want. If you're awake and alert, the surgeon can explain the procedure each step of the way.
Weight Bearing Is Not Allowed After Surgery
You won't be able to put weight on your knee for several days after the procedure. You may need to use crutches or a wheelchair so you can still get around. Although your activities will be limited, you'll need to move around your house and get to your follow-up appointment with your surgeon. Your doctor will tell you when you can resume walking on your knee depending on the extent of your surgery and how well you are