In the modern treatment and diagnosis of degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system, a procedure such as arthroscopy of the knee joint is often recommended - what is it and what is the interest of all patients. In addition, a lot of additional questions arise concerning the technique of performing manipulation, the risks of complications, the need for rehabilitation.
Diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee joint
This method of research is a kind of endoscopic surgical intervention. Diagnostic arthroscopy consists in the fact that the doctor makes one small (about 4-5 mm) incision through which the joint first introduces the irrigation fluid necessary to improve the visibility and delimitation of the constituent parts of the joint. After that, a microscopic fiber optic camera is inserted, which transmits the image on an enlarged scale to the computer screen. If it is necessary to view other parts of the joint, additional incisions can be performed.
It is worth noting that in recent years, arthroscopy has been used less and less for diagnostics, preferring magnetic resonance imaging.
Operation of arthroscopy of the knee joint
The surgical procedure described is indicated for such problems:
- various meniscus lesions;
- dislocation, instability of patella;
- Hoff's disease ;
- inflammation of the synovium;
- free fragments of cartilage, bones located inside the joint;
- ligament rupture;
- chondromalacia;
- Kening's disease;
- deforming arthrosis;
- chronic hyperplasia of the fat body.
The essence of the operation is to carry out 2 cuts from 4 to 6 mm in length. One of them introduces an arthroscope (camera) with the possibility of increasing the image up to 60 times. The second incision serves to access microscopic surgical instruments from a special alloy. In arthroscopy of ligaments of the knee joint, an implant consisting of the tissue of the patient itself or the donor is also introduced. After full restoration of damaged areas, it resolves.
Such surgical manipulation is minimally invasive, practically bloodless, assumes a short period of rehabilitation and stay in the hospital (usually 2-3 days).
Consequences of arthroscopy of the knee joint
Despite the high safety performance of the presented technique, it has some consequences that can arise both during the operation itself and after its implementation.
Common complications in surgical intervention:
- stretching of the lateral internal ligament;
- circulatory disorders in the popliteal vein or artery;
- breakage and jamming of tool fragments in the joint;
- damage to small nerve branches at the site of the incision.
Similar consequences occur very rarely, less than 0.005% of all cases.
Complications after arthroscopy of the knee joint:
- arthritis ;
- articulation of the joint fluid;
- thromboembolic disorders;
- algodystrophic syndrome;
- postoperative infection;
- hemarthrosis inside the joint;
- inflammation in the scar area.
These problems are also not often found in medical practice (less than 0.5% of cases), but for their solution may require repeated surgery, rinsing joints, puncture, internal infiltration or specific therapy, including taking antibacterial drugs, glucocorticosteroid hormones. Also, the presence of serious complications implies an increase in the rehabilitation period to 18-24 months.