About this topic
Knee arthroscopy is a type of surgery to check for and treat knee joint problems. The knee is a large and complex joint. It is made up of 4 bones: the thigh bone, two lower leg bones, and the kneecap. Your kneecap is also called your patella. A smooth tissue called cartilage lines the ends of the bones. This helps the joint glide easier. With normal wear and tear or other problems, the cartilage can wear down. Then the joint can become damaged. This can lead to pain and loss of motion. ‚
Ligaments join one bone to another. The knee joint has 2 side ligaments. These are the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments are in the middle of the knee. Sometimes, ligaments get damaged or strained in some way. Ligaments can get small tears or they can tear all the way. This may cause a problem with normal knee joint movement and make the knee unstable. ‚
Your doctor may suggest surgery if therapy and drugs for pain have not helped and the problem is getting worse. With knee arthroscopy, the doctor makes a few small cuts and uses special tools to look inside of your knee. ‚
Why is this procedure done?
Knee arthroscopy lets the doctor look at the knee joint to see what is causing your knee problem. The doctor may be able use special tools to repair or remove tissue in your knee. Your doctor may be able to: ‚
- Fix or remove:
- tendons and ligaments
- nerve problems
- cartilage problems
- bone spurs
- damaged tissue
- cysts
- Avoid having to use an open surgery with a large cut. This may give you a smaller incision, less pain, and a shorter recovery time.
What happens before the procedure?
- Your doctor will take your history. Talk to your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin, ibuprofen, Aleve (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. You may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your doctor about them.
- When you need to stop eating or drinking before your procedure.
- Your doctor will do a physical exam and may order:
- Lab tests
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
- CT or MRI scan
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- You will not be allowed to drive right away after the procedure. Ask a family member or a friend to drive you home.
What happens during the procedure?
- Once you are in the operating room, the staff will put an IV in your arm to give you fluids and drugs. You will be given a drug to make you sleepy. It will also help you stay pain free during the surgery.
- Sometimes, the doctor will give you a special drug to make you numb for the surgery. Other times, you are completely asleep.
- Your doctor will make 3 to 4 small cuts in your knee. The doctor puts a scope with a tiny camera through one of the small cuts to look at the joint. Your doctor will put small surgical tools into the holes to do the procedure. The doctor fills up your knee with fluid so that it is easier to see inside your joint. Then the doctor fixes the problem inside your knee. Your doctor will close your cuts with stitches or skin glue and covers them with clean bandages.
- The procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours.
What happens after the procedure?
- You will go to the Recovery Room and the staff will watch you closely. Your doctor may give you drugs for pain.
- You may need to wear a brace to support your knee. Ask your doctor how long you need to wear the brace.
- You may also need to use crutches or a walker to get around. Talk to the doctor about how much weight you can put on your leg. Depending on your surgery, you may not be allowed to put any weight on it at all. Other times, you will be able to put some weight on your leg or as much weight as tolerated. It is very important to follow these instructions to allow for proper healing.
- You may be able to go home after a few hours in the Recovery Room.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches, you may need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- You may also need to see a physical therapist (PT). The PT will teach you exercises to help you get back your strength and motion.
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Damage to blood vessels or nerves
- Blood clots
- Ongoing pain and stiffness
- Unable to fix the problem with arthroscopy and need to do an open surgery
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/PDFs/A00299.pdf ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-06-09 ‚
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Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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