When is a knee arthroscopy considered? | Duration of a knee arthroscopy

When is a knee arthroscopy considered?

The reasons for performing arthroscopy on the knee are of a diagnostic and therapeutic nature. It is used for injuries to the structures within the knee joint. Indications of an injury may include pain, swelling (see: joint swelling knee) and instability of the knee.

Different structures of the knee can be the cause of the complaints. These include the cruciate ligaments, cartilage, menisci, joint capsule and mucosa. For example, a torn meniscus, which usually occurs after violent impact on the knee, causes stabbing pain mostly on the side of the knee on the affected side.

Wear-related damage in old age also sometimes requires an arthroscopy. Arthroscopy is also indicated if there are parallel signs of a torn cruciate ligament. Arthroscopy offers the possibility of directly examining the structures of the knee and subsequently treating it.

Arthroscopy is used to diagnose injuries to the knee when other methods cannot provide sufficient information. Here, the treating physician can examine ligaments, tendons and tendons under direct vision. joint cartilage and menisci.

After the arthroscopy a diagnosis is made. A purely diagnostic arthroscopy is rather rare, since most diagnoses can be made in advance by MRI or X-ray. Thus, one usually already has a treatment goal or a therapeutic measure follows.

Arthroscopy of the knee is very often used as part of therapy, partly because it is significantly shorter than the duration of open surgery. Depending on the findings, damaged cartilage can be smoothed or removed, a frequent indication is the suturing of a torn meniscus. A torn cruciate ligament can also be treated with arthroscopy in the knee.

Forecast

An arthroscopy of the knee is a frequently performed and well tolerated procedure. With the correct and adequate follow-up treatment, the duration of the limitation after arthroscopy is limited to a few weeks. General risks such as infection or bleeding can naturally have a strong negative influence on the prognosis.

Prophylaxis

In order to protect your knee and to avoid an arthroscopy of the knee, you should pay attention to low stress on the knee, especially during sports. Bandages, pads and a trained musculature reduce the probability of a serious injury to the knee. A hundred percent prophylaxis is not possible, however