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
