Knee Arthroscopy Surgery Recovery Time and Success Rate
Arthroscopy is a keyhole and minimally invasive surgery. It is performed without cuts and stitches. Consequently, there are no post-operative wounds. Infection and complication rates are the lowest. This surgical treatment is thus highly successful and recovery does not span a long time.
Overview
Under no circumstances, recovery is supposed to last unusually long. Patients start walking early—even on the same day of surgery or the next day. In addition, arthroscopy is done on an outpatient basis as well, which means a patient can go back home a few hours after the operation.
People require knee arthroscopy for a variety of reasons such as:
- ACL repair
- ACL reconstruction
- Meniscus repair
- Cartilage restoration
- Synovectomy
Two persons might need arthroscopy but for different knee problems. It also affects recovery duration. For example, a completely reconstructed ACL will take longer to recover than a minor meniscus damage repair.
For some patients, who have undergone ACL reconstruction surgery, walking might be a little restricted at first. Some even use a walking stick or a walker for support. In addition, one at least requires 2-3 months, with rest, physiotherapy and follow-up care, to walk comfortably after a knee ligament reconstruction.
Hence, recovery isn’t the same for two different individuals and so, is bound to vary from patient to patient.
As far as the success rate is concerned, it is very high. Arthroscopy doesn’t involve large incisions. It is a stitchless treatment option. As a result, there are almost no postoperative wounds. Infection chances and complications are negligible. Consequently, there is no tissue damage either.
To know about your recovery time, consult the best arthroscopic surgeon in Delhi.
Knee Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a keyhole and minimally invasive procedure. In simple terms, this is a surgical treatment that involves the least amount of cutting and stitching. The entire procedure is performed with very narrow (pencil-thin) instruments.
The main instrument used in this intervention/procedure is an arthroscope, which is a camera capable of producing high-definition images of a joint’s interior. This instrument is inserted into the knee through a very small opening, spanning about the diameter of a pencil. This provides surgeons with clear and detailed visualisation that aids in both accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
When arthroscopy is needed to treat a knee condition, it is called knee arthroscopy. Similarly, there are other types of arthroscopy as well such as:
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Ankle Arthroscopy
- Elbow Arthroscopy
Purposes
Knee arthroscopy provides relief from various knee problems such as the following.
ACL Injuries
ACL is a short form of Anterior Cruciate Ligament. It is one of the most important four knee ligaments. Cutting, pivoting and harmful twists and turns often lead to injuries to this ligament.
There are three types of ACL injuries: Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3.
When the ligament is just stretched a bit, it is called a grade 1 injury. The other two are severe. Grade 2 means the ACL has torn partially and in the last category that is Grade 3, the ligament is completely torn, causing severe instability and loss of function.
Torn ACLs are treated with arthroscopy. Partial tears are sutured while the complete damage is fixed through arthroscopic ACL reconstruction intervention. Arthroscopic knee surgery cost is not very high and affordable. It is a minor form of joint surgery rather than an emergency procedure.
Meniscal Damage
The meniscus is a soft tissue pad in the knee joint between the femur and tibia. There are two menisci in each knee. Trauma can damage the meniscus, requiring arthroscopy for treatment.
Cartilage Defects
Cartilage is a layer of soft tissue over bone ends in a joint. Knee bones have cartilage too. Sports injuries lead to damage to the cartilage. This damage is also called a cartilage defect. These are treated with cartilage restoration techniques arthroscopically.
The surface where the cartilage has been eroded is stimulated with a narrow pencil-thin instrument. As a result, healthy cartilage tissue regrows at the spot, leading to restoration of knee mobility.
Inflamed Joint Lining
An autoimmune condition, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, leads to chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane, also known as the synovium. This inflammation leads to joint damage and arthritic conditions early in life.
Here, knee arthroscopy is recommended to perform synovectomy. The inflamed synovial membrane is removed from the knee joint so the pace of damage and inflammation can be controlled and mobility can be improved.
Anaesthesia
There are three types of anaesthesia used by medical professionals for surgical purposes.
General Anaesthesia: The patient becomes totally unconscious and loses all physical sensations before the operation. It is a physical and mental state that resembles deep sleep. General anaesthesia is the widely preferred form of anaesthesia in most surgeries.
Regional Anaesthesia: Regional anaesthesia doesn’t put the patient in a state of deep sleep. In other words, the patient isn’t completely unconscious but only in specific parts, for example, the bottom half or one shoulder with the complete arm and hand on the same side. Body parts under this form of anaesthesia are made numb and unconscious as per the prevailing condition and treatment requirements.
Local Anaesthesia: When the area that requires operation is very small and thus anaesthesia is directly administered at that site, this is called Local Anaesthesia. The patient is almost awake except for a small region of the body that is being operated on. This form of anaesthesia is only used for minor procedures for example wound stitching or removing a mole.
Knee arthroscopy can be performed with either general or regional anaesthesia, as decided by a team of doctors. Local anaesthesia is not used or considered an optimal option as far as arthroscopy is concerned, whether for the knee or any other joint.
Conclusion
If you need arthroscopy for a knee problem, recovery depends on the nature of the surgery and the problem you have. For example, a minor repair will not take longer to recover than a ligament reconstruction. So, for a personalised recovery timeline, it is best to consult a knee specialist.