Diagnostic arthroscopy requires the use of a hospital operating theatre or outpatient surgical unit. Before the operation the patient will be given an anasthetic - either general, spinal or a local. The skin surrounding the affected joint is sterilized. Then a sterile solution is injected into the joint to expand it, making room for the insertion of the arthroscope. The surgeon makes an incision(about the size of a buttonhole) in the skin and inserts the arthroscope. If a large area must be viewed, he or she will make several incisions and move the arhroscope from incision to the next.
A surgical instrument is used to probe various structures inside the joint to determine the extent of the problem. If surgery is indicated,it is performed with specially designed instruments inserted into the joint through small incisions. During surgery the surgeon views the joint on the television monitor.
After the arthroscope surgery is over, the small incisions are closed and covered with a dessing. The patient is moved from the operating theatre to the recovery room where the limb is elevated and pain killing medication is given as required.
Befoer discharge, patients will be instructed on how to look after their wounds, what activities they should avoid, and whatexercises they should do to aid their recovery. At a follow-up visit the surgeon can inspect the incisions, remove sutures, and discuss the rehabilitation programme.
The amount of surgery required and recovery time will depend on the joint problem. Recovery time varies markedly from patient to patient. Not all arthroscopies are the same. Occasionally, during arthroscopy,the surgeon will discover that the disease or injury cannot be treated by arthroscopy alone. The condition may require a more extensive 'open operation'. This additional surgery may be performed while the patient is still anesthetized, or at a later date after the surgeon and the patient have discussed the findings.
Author: New Zealand Orthopaedic Association / The Wishbone Trust
|
|
|
|
Contributor's Note
End of Part 3: Next. Part 4: What are the possible complications?
|
|
|
|
|
