Arthroscopic surgery belongs to the minimally invasive surgical techniques of orthopedics, i.e. operations carried out with smaller incisions, thanks to the arthroscope.
The arthroscope is a sophisticated technology tool, which, in combination with special endoscopic (microscopic) components, can be used to perform simple but also more complex reparative operations, thus achieving smaller tissue damage, while at the same time significantly minimizing healing time.
The operation is performed in the operational theater. The arthroscope, which is a thin tube about 0.5cm in diameter and about 20cm long, is inserted into the joint through a very small incision in the skin of about 5mm.
It has an integrated light source and a camera. Images of the joint are projected onto a screen so the surgeon is able to examine the internal part of the joint, identify the medical issue, and at the same time treat it surgically.
The advantages of arthroscopic surgery over open or semi-open surgery are:
- less pain postoperatively
• faster healing
• lower risk of infection and other complications
• Hospitalization may not be required
• rapid return to daily activities
• the time required for the operation is significantly less, and so is the anesthesia.
• better aesthetic outcome
It is also used diagnostically to examine the internal part of the joints. Diseases treated are:
- athletic injuries.
• meniscal injuries.
• repair of meniscal tears.
• anterior cruciate ligament tears
• osteonecrosis of femoral condyle of knee
• knee osteoarthritis
• repair damaged cartilage
• removal of free bodies (bones, cartilage)
- treatment of arthritis
• calcifications
• treatment of chronic epicondylitis
• treatment of shoulder dislocations
• frozen shoulder
• shoulder tendon rupture (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, biceps)
• subacromial shoulder impingement