Arthroscopy is an operation in which the inside
of a joint is seen with the help of a small, pencil-like
telescope. This telescope is called Arthroscope.
A small cut, that of the size of a button-hole is
made on the joint, and through this the tip of the
arthroscope is introduced into the joint. A small
video-camera is attached at the outer end of the
telescope so that the inside of the joint can be
seen directly on a T.V. screen. The tip of the telescope
can be taken to all the nooks and corners of the
joint, and thus the details of the joints can be
thoroughly examined.
Once the fault in the joint is diagnosed, in most
cases, it is possible to correct it there and then,
without cutting open the joint. For this, another
small cut is made at some other point, and micro-instruments
such as cutters, graspers etc. are introduced into
the joint. The surgeon performing this operation
needs to develops a special psychomotor skill of
performing at one place (inside the knee) while
looking at another (the TV monitor). A variety of
instruments are required to perform these technically
demanding operations. These include motorized shaver,
electric cautery, radiofrequency devices etc.
What is it like having an arthroscopy done?
Once you and your surgeon have decided that
you can be benefitted by arthroscopy, the following
procedure is adopted:
You will undergo some tests to check your fitness
for operation. You may have to be referred to an
anaesthetist, the doctors who put you to sleep before
surgery. Sometimes all this is done after admission.
You are admitted on the morning of the operation,
operated sometimes during the day, and go home the
same evening. In exceptional circumstances, you
may have to stay overnight. In some patients with
medical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure
etc., admission on the previou evening may be wiser
so that a detailed medical check up is done.
On the morning of the operation, your leg will be
painted with coloured solution to kill the germs
which normally reside in the pores of your skin
( you can’t see these). Inside the operation
theatre, you will meet your team of doctors including
the surgeon, the anaesthetist and others. There
are a number of other personal in the operation
theatre who help in arranging the operation. There
is no need to get anxious on seeing them.
Like in any operation, you are either put to
complete sleep, by general anaesthesia, or only
your legs are made numb by spinal anaesthesia.
Your anaesthetist will discuss with you the advantages
and disadvantages of both, but you are the final
choice is your’s.
Once you are anaesthetised, your leg is cleaned.
With the help of a devise called tourniquet, your
blood circulation to the limb is stopped for the
period of operation. This under to operation bloodless.
After the operation, you will find yourself in
a bandage over the knee. This may be a little
feeling of pain, but surely within tolerable limit,
if you have too much pain, we will give you a
painkiller injection. So, from your point, you
should not feel much pain in this procedure.
Once you are sent have, you can walk to toilet, within
the room etc. After 48 hours, you dressing can be
removed, and on two stick areas, band-aids can be
applied. Once this is lose you can gradually go
back to your normal activities, which takes nearly
one week.
In some cases, things do not go as smoothly.
You may more than time cuts. Your knee may appear
swollen. You may develop fever for a few days.
The pain may be more for a few days, but all this
can be taken care of.
Are there any side effects/complications of arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is one of the operation. There are
hardly any problems associated with arthroscopy
itself. It is another matter that it may not be
possible to do everything inside the joint with
arthroscopic surgery, and in some cases on additional
cut may become necessary. Come patients continue
to feel pain at the cut site for sometime, but
it dissappear with time. On rare instances, there
may develop infection in the wound, but this happen
in one in 20000 cases.
Arthroscopy can have make your , but sometimes
the disease affecting the joint in such that it
progresses inspite of arthroscopic surgery –
it would have done so anyway!
|
