At Shoreline Orthopaedics, our orthopaedic surgeons use a truly collaborative approach so our patients have the benefit of multiple expert opinions, without having to go elsewhere to obtain them.
Shoreline Orthopaedics provides more comprehensive services, state-of-the-art options, technologies and techniques than anyone else in the area.
The following information is provided to help you understand what you can expect from us regarding policies and procedures, and also what is expected of you before and after treatment or procedures.
The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of anatomy, terminology, certain orthopaedic procedures, and more. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your physician.
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used by orthopaedic surgeons to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside the joint. Because it requires only tiny incisions, arthroscopy can be performed without a major, invasive operation and many procedures can be done on an outpatient basis. The word arthroscopy comes from two Greek words, "arthro" (joint) and "skopein" (to look). The term literally means, "to look within the joint."
An arthroscopic examination begins with your orthopaedic surgeon making a small incision in the skin that allows insertion of the arthroscope. This instrument provides a clear, illuminated view of structures inside your joint, enabling your surgeon to make a diagnosis of the type and extent of your injury that may be more accurate than can be obtained through X-rays, MRI or open surgery. Although arthroscopy was initially used only as a diagnostic tool for planning standard open surgery, today's advanced instrumentation and surgical techniques enable orthopaedic surgeons to treat many conditions arthroscopically.
Much easier than open surgery in terms of recovery, arthroscopic surgery still requires the use of anesthetics and specialized equipment in a hospital operating room or outpatient surgical suite. Depending on the joint or suspected problem, you may be given general anesthesia (you are put to sleep), spinal anesthesia (you are awake but your body is numb from the waist down), or a local anesthetic (you are awake and only the problem area becomes numb). Discuss anesthesia with your surgeon to determine which option is best for you.
During arthroscopic surgery, a small, buttonhole-sized incision will be made, allowing insertion of the arthroscope. Additional incisions may be necessary to view other areas of the joint or to insert other instruments. If indicated, corrective surgery will be performed using specially designed instruments that are inserted into the joint through accessory incisions. After surgery, the incision(s) will be covered with a dressing and you will be moved to a recovery room.
Arthroscopic surgery has received public attention because it is often used to treat well-known athletes, but it is an extremely valuable tool for all orthopaedic patients. Generally easier on the patient than open surgery, most undergo arthroscopic surgery as outpatients and are home several hours afterwards.
Before being discharged, you will be given instructions on how to care for your incisions, what activities to avoid, and any exercises you should do to aid your recovery. During your follow-up visit, your orthopaedic surgeon will inspect your incisions; remove sutures, if present; and discuss your rehabilitation program. Occasionally, the surgeon discovers during the procedure that the injury or disease cannot be treated adequately with arthroscopy alone. In this case, extensive open surgery may be performed, either while you are still anesthetized, or at a later date after you have discussed the findings with your surgeon. Several procedures may combine arthroscopic and standard open surgery.
The operative dressing can usually be removed within a day or two after surgery and replaced with adhesive bandage strips. The small incisions are typically healed within several days. Although the wounds themselves are small and pain is minimal, depending on what is done inside the joint, recovery can vary from a few weeks to several months. Your surgeon may provide a specific activity and rehabilitation program to speed recovery and protect future function of your joint.
It is not unusual for patients to resume their work, school, or other normal activities within a few days. Athletes and others in good physical condition are, in certain cases, able to return to athletic activities within a few weeks. Of course, recovery times vary with each individual, depending on the complexity of the problem treated, the amount of surgery that was required, and any preexisting conditions.
Although unusual, complications do occur occasionally during or following arthroscopy. The most common of these include: infection, phlebitis (blood clots of a vein) or DVT (deep vein thrombosis), excessive swelling or bleeding, damage to blood vessels or nerves, and instrument breakage, however these occur in far less than 1 percent of all arthroscopic procedures.