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| WHAT IS KNEE ARTHROSCOPY? |
| Knee arthroscopy is a procedure in which the doctor examines your knee with an instrument called an arthroscope. An arthroscope is a tube with a light on its end that is inserted into your knee, and projects an image of the inside of your knee onto a TV monitor. The arthroscope is about the diameter of a pencil. |
| WHEN IS IT USED? |
| This procedure is used to diagnose the cause of pain, swelling, tenderness, or weakness in your knee. |
| ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO ARTHROSCOPY? |
| Examples of alternatives are: |
| - limit your activity |
| - take anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling |
| - wear a knee brace |
| - have physical therapy |
| - have open knee surgery |
| - have MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) |
| - choose no treatment, recognizing the risks of your condition |
| HOW DO I PREPARE FOR KNEE ARTHROSCOPY? |
| Plan for your car and recovery after the operation, especially if you are to have general anesthesia. Allow time to rest, and try to find someone to help you with your day to day activities. |
| Follow any instructions your doctor may give you. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight, or the morning before the procedure. Do not even drink coffee, tea, or water after midnight. |
| WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCEDURE? |
| The doctor will give you a general, regional, or local anesthetic. A general anesthetic will relax your muscles and make you feel as if you are in a deep sleep. Both local and regional anesthetics numb part of the body while allowing you to remain awake. All three types of anesthetic should keep you from feeling pain during the operation. |
| The doctor will insert the arthroscope (a tube containing a saltwater solution and a probe instrument) into the lower part of your knee. Fluid will be injected into the knee. Your doctor may find loose material in the knee, or there may be a tear in the cartilage and/or ligaments. Sometimes the doctor can repair the tears and remove loose pieces of cartilage using small instruments and the arthroscope. If the problem cannot be fixed by this procedure, the doctor may recommend open knee surgery. After the procedure, the doctor will close the small openings with one or two stitches, or with sticky tape. |
| WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PROCEDURE? |
| - you can go home the day of the procedure |
| - you should take it easy for at least the next 2-3 days |
| - keep your leg elevated, with your foot higher than your knee, and you knee higher than your hip |
| - start bending the knee as soon as possible |
| - use your crutches until you can walk nearly normally |
| - do light stretching exercises (if instructed to do so by your doctor) |
| - ask your doctor when you can resume full activity |
| WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF KNEE ARTHROSCOPY? |
| Your knee problem may be corrected without a large incision, which requires a longer stay in the hospital, more discomfort, and greater expense. |
| WHAT RISKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROCEDURE? |
| - there are risks with general anesthesia, discuss them with your doctor |
| - a local or regional anesthetic may not numb the area quite enough and you may feel some minor discomfort. Also, in rare cases, you may have an allergic reaction to the drug used in this type of anesthesia. Local or regional anesthesia is considered safer than general anesthesia in people who are older, or who have certain medical conditions |
| - nerve injury can occur, causing numbness around the small incisions |
| - during repair of the cartilage, nerve or artery damage can occur, which can cause numbness, weakness, or pain in your leg and foot (this is very rare) |
| - infection and bleeding may occur |
| WHEN SHOULD I CALL THE DOCTOR? |
| Call the doctor immediately if - |
| There is excessive drainage from the puncture sites |
| There is unusual pain in the knee |
| You develop swelling in your calf or thigh that is not relieved by elevating your leg |
| You develop a fever |
| Call the doctor during office hours if - |
| You have questions about the procedure or its result |
| You want to make another appointment |
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