What is Arthroscopy? and Benefits of Arthroscopic Surgery – Arthroscopic surgery is a common surgical procedure offered by orthopedic surgeons.
For those wondering “What is Arthroscopy?” – arthroscopy is a very common orthopedic procedure performed on a number of different body parts. Most commonly arthroscopy is performed by an orthopedic surgeon on the knees, followed by the shoulders, hips, ankles and other joint areas including elbows and wrists.
According to data from the National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery, as reported by Kim (2011) and colleagues published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, the use of arthroscopy on the knee increased by nearly 50% between 1996 and 2006.
During arthroscopy, a small high deviation camera is placed into a joint in order to visualize the pathology and allow the orthopedic surgeon to correct the problem or injury.
Arthroscopic surgery can be used to treat a variety of conditions and joint problems including the following:
- ACL tears
- Torn meniscus
- Rotator cuff tears
- Impingement syndrome
- Osteoarthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Loose cartilage in the knee, shoulder or other joint areas
If you have been told by an orthopedic surgeon that you need arthroscopy or are considering the procedure, there are definite benefits to arthroscopy. Five major benefits of arthroscopic surgery include the following:
- Minimally invasive compared to many other surgical interventions
- Minimal blood loss
- Faster recovery than open surgery
- Less pain post operatively compared to other surgical interventions
- Patients are typically discharged following arthroscopic surgery on the same day
As with any surgical intervention, there are some risks to consider with arthroscopic surgery. You should discuss potential risks of arthroscopy with your medical care provider, based on your own health condition and history.
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