Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure performed by orthopedic surgeons to visualise, diagnose and treat joint problems.

• Hospitalisation
• Clinical process: 2 days

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure performed by orthopedic surgeons to visualise, diagnose and treat joint problems.

Arthroscopy involves inserting a small lens and pencil-size lights system to magnify and expand the structures inside the joint; this involves making a small incision in the patient’s skin.

This way, the orthopedic surgeon can determine the extent or type of injury, and then repair or correct the problem if necessary.

Meet the medical team that will carry out the intervention: Traumatologists and orthopedic surgeons.

Duration: 2 days

After a quick intervention, the recovery process lasts two days. The sessions will be held at the Mallorca Health Care hospital’s Rehabilitation facilities.

Through the arthroscope, a final diagnosis is made, which can be more accurate than through “open” surgery or radiological studies.

Some of the most common conditions during joints arthroscopic examinations are:

• Inflammation
• Chronic or acute injury
• Shoulder: Cuff tendon tears, compression syndrome and dislocations.
• Knee: Meniscus (cartilage), chondromalacia (cartilage cushion wearing or injury) and cruciate ligament tears with instability.
• Wrist: Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Various methods can combine arthroscopic and standard surgery
• Rotator cuff surgery.
• Repair or resection of torn cartilage (meniscus) of the knee or shoulder.
• Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee.
• Removal of the inflamed lining (synovium) in knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist.
• Carpal tunnel release.
• Repair of torn ligaments.
• Removal of loose bone or cartilage in the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, wrist.

Arthroscopic surgery requires the use of anesthetics and the special equipment in a hospital operating theatre. The patient will be given general, spinal or local anesthesia depending on the joint problem.

A small incision will be made (about the size of a buttonhole) to insert the arthroscope. Several other incisions may be made to see other parts of the joint or insert other instruments.

When indicated, corrective surgery is performed with specially designed instruments that are inserted into the joint through additional incisions. Initially, arthroscopy was simply a diagnostic tool for planning standard open surgery. With the development of better tools and surgical techniques, many conditions can be treated by arthroscopy.

After arthroscopic surgery, the small incisions will be covered with a bandage. The patient will be transferred from the operating theatre to the recovery room. Many patients need little or no medications to treat the pain.

Before being discharged, the patient will be given instructions to care for the incisions, activities to avoid, and exercises that will help recovery. During the follow-up visit, the orthopedic surgeon will inspect the incisions, check sutures and discuss the rehabilitation program.

The amount of the surgery required and the recovery time will depend on the complexity of the problem.

What are the benefits?

Arthroscopy is a very valuable tool for all orthopedic patients and is generally easier for the patient than open surgery. Most patients undergo arthroscopic surgery as outpatients and return home a few hours after surgery.

What are the complications?

Although uncommon, complications do occur occasionally during or following arthroscopy. These include infection, phlebitis, excessive swelling or bleeding, damage to blood vessels or nerves, but these occur in less than 1% of all arthroscopic procedures.

The small wounds take several days to heal and the surgical dressing can usually be removed the morning after undergoing arthroscopic surgery.

Although the puncture wounds are small and pain in the joint that underwent arthroscopy is minimal, several weeks are needed for the joint to recover to the fullest. An activities and specific rehabilitation program may be suggested to speed the patient’s recovery and protect the joint function in the future.

It is not uncommon for patients to return to work or to resume their daily activities within a few days. Athletes and other individuals who are in good physical condition may in some cases return to their sports activities within a few weeks. Remember, however, that people who undergo arthroscopic surgery can have many different diagnoses and preexisting conditions, so the arthroscopic surgery for each patient is unique to that person.

The recovery time will reflect that individuality.

Professionalism

At the Mallorca Health Care we want to introduce the patient to the team of specialists who will optimally perform the intervention and follow the evolution until returning home. See traumatologists and orthopedic surgeons.