Knee Arthroscopy A Favored Procedure In Asheboro Nc
Knee arthroscopy is routinely used by Asheboro NC sports medicine doctors to see
inside your knee joint in order to evaluate and treat the causes of knee pain. This knee surgery procedure is simple: under local anesthesia, you receive two to four small incisions, and your sports medicine doctor, guided by a tiny camera about the circumference of a pencil, is able to see your entire knee joint and perform minimally invasive knee surgery through those tiny portals, removing, cutting or trimming damaged knee tissue.
What do sports medicine doctors see inside your knee?
Knee arthroscopy allows sports medicine doctors in Asheboro NC a clear view of the source of knee pain. The knee is basically a hinge formed by the ends of the femur, or thigh bone, and the tibia, or leg bone. The knee cap, or patella, slides against the femur. The surfaces on these bones are covered with a thin coating of smooth articular cartilage, which allows them to glide over each other as the knee bends and straightens during activity.
When cartilage at the ends of bones begins to wear away and break down, arthritis follows. Arthritis breakdown can be caused by injury, infection, aging, or rheumatoid conditions. Knee pain and swelling develop where cartilage has worn away, and arthritis develops. Knee cartilage that is wearing away cannot repair itself.
A second type of cartilage seen via knee arthroscopy, called the meniscus, is a fibrous type of cartilage which sits between the ends of the tibia and femur. These crescent-shaped shock-absorbers, two on the insides and outsides of each knee, protect the coating of articular cartilage on bone surfaces. Sports medicine doctors try to save as much meniscal tissue as possible during knee surgery procedures, because studies suggest that the more meniscus tissue lost, the higher the risk of future.
Can knee arthroscopy help meniscus tears to heal?
With sufficient blood supply, some meniscus tears can heal. The outer, thicker part of the meniscus receives a fairly good blood supply from the joint lining, but the inner, thinner part has poor blood supply. Thus, tears at the outer margin of the meniscus can often be repaired by suturing across the tear. If the tear is in the thin part of the meniscus, however, the cartilage is generally removed. Old or chronic tears also tend to have a poorer success rate with repair, and are typically trimmed out as well.
Knee arthroscopy is very successful in relieving knee pain from torn meniscal cartilage. With regard to arthritis, knee surgery success is unpredictable, especially when articular cartilage is seriously damaged or worn away from the bones. However, arthroscopic knee surgery does sometimes improve arthritis knee pain, and is an acceptable treatment option for patients still suffering knee pain after trying alternative treatments such as medication and injections.
What can I expect after knee arthroscopy?
Recovery time from knee arthroscopy depends upon many factors, but mostly on how extensive the damage, and how much trimming and cutting were needed. Most patients go home the same day after knee surgery. Crutches may be used for three to seven days, but you will certainly be encouraged to put weight on your knee as soon as possible.
Rest, ice packs, and elevating your leg are also recommended. Sometimes physical therapy may be prescribed. If a torn meniscus cartilage was found and removed, you can usually return to previous athletic activity levels. However, your sports medicine doctor in Asheboro NC will warn you that heavily stressing a knee that is missing part of the meniscus may lead to arthritis.
If you wonder if knee arthroscopy could rid you of your knee pain, contact the sports medicine doctors in Asheboro NC. Knee arthroscopy is one of their sports medicine knee surgery specialties, so be sure to schedule a consultation, today.
by: Shirley G. Dudley
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