Arthoscopy

Your general physician will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon to further evaluate your knee if needed. Your orthopedic surgeon is a medical doctor with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

Your orthopedic surgeon will determine whether you could benefit from knee arthroscopy. Signs that you may be a candidate for this procedure includes swelling, persistent pain, a knee that catches, giving out and loss of confidence in your knee. When other nonsurgical treatments fail to provide significant improvement you may be a candidate for knee arthroscopy.

Your physician will take your history in which information about your general health and symptoms will be documented. A physical exam to assess your knee motion and stability, muscle strength and overall leg alignment will follow. X-rays will be taken to evaluate the bones of your knee. You may also have an MRI scan to help determine soft tissue involvement. Blood tests may also be required. Your orthopedic surgeon will explain the potential risks and complications of knee arthroscopy, including those related to the surgery itself and those that can occur after your surgery.

Arthroscopy is one of the most common orthopedic procedures done in the United States with more than 1.5 million performed each year. Knee arthroscopy takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours to perform and is typically done on an outpatient basis. There are certain things that you will have to do prior to surgery.

Arthroscopy can be used to diagnose and treat many of these problems:

Torn meniscus
Loose fragments of bone or cartilage
Damaged joint surfaces or softening of the articular cartilage (chondromalacia)
Inflammation of the synovial membrane (rheumatoid or gouty arthritis)
Abnormal alignment or instability of the kneecap