Arthroscopic Surgery
Arthroscopy is a surgical technique which uses miniature video cameras and a variety of specialized miniature instruments to treat problems in the knee, shoulder, ankle, hip and wrist. Arthroscopy requires only very small incisions in the skin to permit these devices to see into the joints of the body and perform many different procedures. Due to the small incisions, the pain is less than with open surgery and the recovery time after surgery is greatly decreased. Arthroscopy is usually performed as an outpatient procedure which requires no hospital stay, and allows you to return home the same day.
The Arthroscope is a miniature lens that has a camera attachment at one end, and a small lens with a fiber optic light at the other end. This small lens, approximately the size of a pencil, is introduced into the joint. The image is passed through the Arthroscope, into the camera and then displayed on a television monitor. The surgeon watches the large image on the monitor as instruments specific to the needs of the surgery are used through additional skin incisions.
During arthroscopy, the joint is filled with sterile water to expand the capsule, flush out debris and produce a magnified view for the camera. A special fluid pump is used to ensure a continuous flow of fluid into the joint. Depending upon the needs of the patient, many different miniature arthroscopic instruments may be employed to correct problems in the joint.
Equipment, Courtesy of Dyonics, a division of Smith & Nephew. www.sn-e.com