Arthroscopic Surgery FAQ
- What is arthroscopic surgery?
- What are the benefits of arthroscopy?
- When is arthroscopic knee surgery recommended?
- Who will benefit most from shoulder arthroscopy?
- When is arthroscopic hip surgery recommended?
- When is ankle arthroscopy recommended?
1. What is arthroscopic surgery?
Arthroscopic surgery, also known as arthroscopy, is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to diagnose the cause of joint pain and repair joint damage with precision. Arthroscopic techniques are used to treat a variety of joint conditions, including sports-related injuries such as ligament or cartilage tears.
During arthroscopic surgery, Dr. Meszaros uses a fiber optic camera, known as an arthroscope, to see within the interior of the affected joint. The camera sends real-time, detailed images of the joint interior to a computer monitor in the operating room, providing Dr. Meszaros with a greater visualization of the joint interior. He will then insert specialized, pencil-sized surgical instruments into small incisions around the affected joint to repair the damaged areas.
2. What are the benefits of arthroscopy?
Arthroscopic surgery has several potential advantages for patients; therefore, Dr. Meszaros is dedicated to using this approach to surgery whenever possible. The smaller incisions, use of specialized instruments, and better visualization of the joint’s interior allows Dr. Meszaros to perform procedures with decreased disruption to the surrounding tissue and muscle.
In addition, patients who undergo arthroscopic surgery will often experience decreased scarring, a reduced amount of post-operative pain, less blood loss during surgery, shorter hospital stay, and quicker return to daily activities.
3. When is arthroscopic knee surgery recommended?
Knee arthroscopy is used to treat a variety of conditions and injuries, including:
- Meniscal tears
- ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears
- PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) tears
- Cartilage damage
- Patellar (kneecap) balance or tracking problems
- Some instances of arthritis
4. Who will benefit most from shoulder arthroscopy?
Patients suffering from painful rotator cuff tears, labral tears, recurrent shoulder dislocations, and severe frozen shoulder will often benefit most from arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
For patients suffering from rotator cuff tears, Dr. Meszaros will often recommend shoulder arthroscopy to either debride or reattach the torn tendons.
In order to relieve pain or restore joint stability, labral tears may require minimally invasive surgery to debride or repair the torn tissue.
Frozen shoulder patients who are unable to restore joint function through physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications, will often benefit greatly from arthroscopic shoulder surgery to loosen the tight tendons.
5. When is arthroscopic hip surgery recommended?
Hip arthroscopy is often recommended for patients suffering from labral tearing or bone impingement. Labral tearing of the hip is often caused by trauma, dislocation, or constant repetitive motion of the hip joint. For painful labral tears, Dr. Meszaros may recommend hip arthroscopy to debride or repair the tissue. For bone impingement, removing the bony process (bump) from the hip joint may be indicated.
6. When is ankle arthroscopy recommended?
Arthroscopic surgery is used to treat cartilage damage within the ankle or removing bony prominences around the joint that cause pain.
