How Can Knee Arthroscopy Help?

Minimally invasive knee arthroscopic surgery has proven beneficial for patients with knee problems where surgery is recommended. Since arthroscopy requires smaller incisions, it doesn’t cause much damage to the surrounding soft tissues, reduces blood loss, decreases hospital stay and risk of complications. All these factors make recovery quicker and complete.

Clinical scenarios, in which arthroscopic surgery may be suitable, include –

known or suspected septic arthritis
Symptomatic meniscal tears that have been treated with non-operative treatment, without relief
Symptomatic loose bodies
Locked or locking knees
Meniscal tears that require repair
Inflammatory arthropathy requiring synovectomy
Synovial pathology requiring biopsy or resection
Unstable chondral pathology causing mechanical symptoms
As an adjunct to, and in combination with, other surgical procedures as appropriate for osteoarthritis: for example, high tibial osteotomy and patellofemoral realignment
As a diagnostic tool when the condition of the knee or the problem is unclear on MRI or MRI is not possible, and the symptoms are not of osteoarthritis

When osteoarthritis is present, the decision for arthroscopic surgery is made by the treating orthopedic surgeon –

after a thorough review and assessment of the arthroscopically treatable pathology, contribution of the osteoarthritis, and the patient’s symptoms
only after all conservative and minimally invasive treatment options have been utilized but failed to provide relief and restoration of function
after a thorough discussion with the patient about the advantages of the arthroscopic procedure as opposed to continuing non-invasive treatment

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