About a quarter of all adults in the United States suffer from knee pain, including from diseases like arthritis and injuries like sprains. While some knee problems can be treated nonsurgically many people benefit from orthopedic surgery — particularly minimally invasive knee arthroscopy because we use our knees so much.
Board certified in orthopedic surgery and fellowship trained in arthroscopy, J. Michael Bennett, MD, PA, offers arthroscopic knee repair for various knee injuries in patients in Sugar Land and Houston, Texas. If you have knee pain, here’s what he wants you to know about this state-of-the-art treatment.
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a flexible surgical instrument called an arthroscope. This scope is equipped with a tiny camera at one end.
When inserted through a small incision near your knee, the camera takes high-definition video of the joint and transmits those images back to a monitor. Dr. Bennett refers to the monitor while performing your procedure, gaining a clear, magnified view of your knee joint without needing to make large incisions.
Arthroscopy is widely used in orthopedics, including many types of knee surgery. Dr. Bennett uses arthroscopy to treat issues like:
In addition to performing surgical repairs to your knee, arthroscopy is often used to diagnose the cause of knee pain, stiffness, or other symptoms.
Knee arthroscopy is performed on an outpatient basis. Before surgery, you’ll receive anesthesia to keep you relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure.
The surgery begins with a tiny incision near the joint. Dr. Bennett inserts the arthroscope through this incision and uses the camera to view the inside of your knee joint. Then, he makes an additional 1-2 incisions. These incisions allow him to insert the instruments he needs to repair your knee joint.
Once the repair is complete, Dr. Bennett removes the instruments and closes the incision with sutures or special surgical bandages. Then, you’re moved to a recovery area for a short period before being discharged.
After your surgery, you’ll have some discomfort that can be managed with over-the-counter pain medicines. Dr. Bennett may prescribe medicine to help you in the early stages of recovery.
Discharge instructions will go over how to care for your incision sites, along with instructions about which activities you can do and which you should avoid initially. Soon after your surgery, Dr. Bennett will discuss physical therapy with you. Therapy plays a key role in recovery for most people undergoing knee surgery.
Whether you have an acute knee injury or a chronic knee issue like arthritis, knee arthroscopy could be what you need to feel better and improve your mobility. To learn more about knee arthroscopy and whether it can help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Bennett today.
