Knee Arthroscopy for Sports Injuries
Knee
arthroscopy is a very common sports injury surgery. It is much less
invasive than an ACL reconstruction, or other types of open surgical
procedures. A knee "scope" is a relatively simple surgery, and the
recovery time will vary depending on what type of procedure was
actually performed.
An
arthroscopic procedure
allows your physician to actually enter the knee joint and look around.
This gives you an absolute diagnosis. They can evaluate all of the
structures within the knee joint, and then address any abnormalities or
injuries.
Following a knee scope, you may have
specific restrictions for weight bearing or range of motion, depending
on what was actually done inside your knee. Make sure you talk with
your surgeon about these restrictions.
A knee scope
is usually less painful than an open procedure, and
depending on the type of surgery performed, has a recovery time that
ranges from 1-4 months.
The most common knee
injuries that can be treated arthroscopically include meniscus tears,
chondromalacia patella, some patella femoral compression syndromes, and
articular cartilage injuries.
Below you will find
information regarding the most common types of knee scopes for
sports injuries.
Meniscus
Tear SurgeryMany meniscus tears must be treated
surgically. Learn more about this procedure, known as a meniscectomy.
Meniscus Repair
Unlike
a meniscectomy, a meniscus repair actually saves the meniscus,
attempting to repair the tissue, rather than remove it.
Lateral ReleaseThis
surgery is used to treat patella femoral syndrome. Learn more about
this type of surgery.