Arthroscopic surgeries are minimally invasive surgical procedures performed to diagnose and treat problems within a joint, such as the knee, shoulder, hip, or ankle. This medical technique uses a small, flexible instrument called an arthroscope, which is inserted through tiny incisions in the skin to access and visualize the joint.
During an arthroscopic surgery, the arthroscope is equipped with a light source and a camera connected to a video monitor. This allows the surgeon to examine the joint structures, such as bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons in detail, without the need for a large open incision.
Arthroscopic surgeries offer several benefits compared to traditional open surgeries. They usually result in smaller incisions, leading to less pain, reduced scarring, and a quicker recovery period. Additionally, arthroscopy enables doctors to perform various procedures inside the joint, including the removal of damaged tissue or loose fragments, repair or reconstruction of ligaments, removal of bone spurs, and smoothing of roughened cartilage surfaces.
Common conditions that may require arthroscopic surgeries include ligament tears, meniscus tears, cartilage damage, joint instability, synovitis (inflammation of the joint lining), impingements (abnormal bone growth causing rubbing and pain), and certain types of fractures.
Overall, arthroscopic surgeries have revolutionized the field of orthopedic surgery, allowing for more precise diagnoses and targeted treatments with minimized trauma to the patient's body.
