Not long ago, surgery meant a large, open incision and days in the hospital. With arthroscopy, however, your joint problems can be repaired on the same day using small incisions. At Ani Orthopaedics in Hazlet and Old Bridge, New Jersey, they have extensive experience performing arthroscopic procedures to diagnose and treat a broad range of joint conditions. To learn more about arthroscopy, call Ani Orthopaedics or schedule an appointment online today.
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure performed to diagnose and treat problems affecting your joints. The procedure gets its name from a key piece of equipment, the arthroscope, which is as thin as a pencil and can be inserted through a small incision. As a result, you avoid the trauma of open surgery.
The arthroscope contains a fiber-optic light and video camera that sends images to a large monitor. After the surgeon inserts the arthroscope into your joint, he can see magnified views of the tissues, determine the cause of your symptoms, and the precise extent of the injury, inflammation, or disease.
Although arthroscopy may be done only for diagnostic purposes, the underlying problem is usually repaired during the same procedure. When your condition is treated, other small incisions are made to accommodate narrow surgical tools. While viewing the joint on the monitor, the surgeon controls the tools to complete your surgery.
Arthroscopy is performed to diagnose and treat virtually any condition or injury found in the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle.
These are a few examples of conditions that may require arthroscopy:
During an arthroscopic procedure, the surgeon may repair torn soft tissues, reconstruct ligaments, release tendons or nerves, and remove inflamed or damaged tissues.
The small incisions and narrow instruments used during arthroscopy cause significantly less trauma compared to conventional open surgery. As a result, you gain benefits such as:
Arthroscopy is commonly performed as an outpatient procedure. Your rehabilitation and recovery time depend on the type of procedure.
When your joint problem requires surgery, your orthopaedic surgeon discusses with you about your options and whether you’re a good candidate for arthroscopy. If you have questions about arthroscopic procedures, call Ani Orthopaedics or schedule an evaluation online today.
