If you are experiencing pain in your knee, it is good that you will learn about arthroscopic knee surgery, particularly why you might need it. Tenafly arthroscopic knee surgery specialists such as James M. Lee, Jr, MD, employ cutting-edge techniques and procedures to get a clear view of the knee and make an accurate diagnosis and perform the repair simultaneously. The process only involves small incisions, and you will experience less pain, scarring, and bleeding. However, not all painful conditions on your knee can be corrected through an arthroscopic procedure. The top reasons to perform the procedure are outlined herein.
You Have Torn Cartilage
When your meniscus cartilage is torn, a portion of the torn cartilage can be removed through a meniscectomy. The arthroscopic technique will be used to trim smaller amounts of the meniscus tears to relieve the symptoms you might be experiencing. Note that the meniscus is the shock-absorbing wedge between the bone ends on your knee that provides cushioning and support and can cause painful symptoms when torn.
Meniscus Repair
The meniscus can also be repaired through arthroscopy, where the damage is less severe and does not require removal. The surgical procedure aims to restore the natural anatomy of your knee and provide a better prognosis when successful. However, it is good to note that meniscus repair is a more significant surgical procedure than torn meniscus removal. Therefore, it may not be an initial option as the recovery is longer, and when there is an inadequate blood supply to the meniscus, it becomes difficult to repair.
Plica Excision
Your knee was divided into different compartments in your early development, and the dividers are lost gradually over the years. However, some tissues can remain, and when they become more prominent, they are called plicas. A plica can become irritated, causing a complication known as plica syndrome. This calls for a surgical intervention to remove the painful tissue, and an arthroscopy technique is employed.
ACL Reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the core knee ligaments, is critical to your knee stability. However, injuries are inevitable, and the ligament can be injured, causing unbearable symptoms. Fortunately, you can opt for a surgical treatment to manage the damage, and a majority of the procedures will be performed arthroscopically.
Lateral Release
If you touch your knee cap, you will feel it moving up and down in a groove of cartilage. However, sometimes the knee cap can be dislocated from the groove or be pulled to the outside, causing painful conditions. At this point, you will require a lateral release to loosen the ligament that stretches the knee cup. The procedure will be performed arthroscopically.
Microfracture
If you experience cartilage damage, you might require a microfracture treatment to stimulate the body to develop new cartilage. The procedure applies an arthroscopic technique as the outer layer of one is penetrated to expose the internal layers where the bone marrow cells occur. The cells occupy the damaged area, filling the gap of cartilage.
Depending on your symptoms, it would be good to book a consultation appointment with experts such as Dr. Lee, who will work with you to design the best treatment option for your condition.