Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive outpatient surgery in which an orthopedic surgeon can go directly into an injured joint and make repairs to physical problems that may be causing pain or disability. The arthroscope is a small, thin tube with fiber-optic visual capability at the end which sends real-time video to a monitor right there in the operating room for the surgeon’s view.
This surgery warrants only a couple of small incisions to access the joint, so damage and recovery from the procedure are both kept to an absolute minimum. Although arthroscopy can be performed on virtually any joint, it is most commonly used to diagnose and treat problems affecting the ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, and wrist.
Let’s talk about what’s involved in these popular types of arthroscopy, and where you can go here in Dover, New Jersey, and the surrounding areas to receive outstanding orthopedic care.
Ankle Arthroscopy
This procedure is often performed to treat ankle arthritis, fracture, impingement, and severe ankle sprain (ligament tear in the ankle). Arthroscopic surgery of the ankle is sometimes performed along with ankle fusion, in which two or more of the ankle bones are fastened together for the purposes of facilitating natural bone fusion. This treatment can relieve severe and chronic ankle pain and swelling.
Knee Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic surgery of the knee is often performed to repair a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), torn PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), torn meniscus, damaged synovial tissue and damaged patella (kneecap). It can also be used for purposes of cartilage transfer.
Hip Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy of the hip may be done to treat hip impingement, labral tears, hip bone cysts, inflamed hip joint lining, and loose cartilage. It is also used to repair abnormalities of the femoral head and acetabulum, which comprise the ball-and-socket components of the hip joint.
Shoulder Arthroscopy
One of the most common reasons for having shoulder arthroscopy is rotator cuff repair. During this procedure, the orthopedist removes inflamed or loose tissue or bone fragments and reattaches torn muscle and tendon tissue to the bone – thereby regaining normal functionality of the shoulder. Other conditions that can be fixed via shoulder arthroscopy include sprains, tendonitis, shoulder impingement, and bursitis.
Elbow Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic surgery of the elbow is often performed to treat tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, and to remove loose cartilage and bone fragments.
Wrist Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy of the wrist is frequently done to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, in which more space is created in the carpal tunnel for the pinched median nerve. It is also performed to realign fractured bone fragments, repair ligaments, remove ganglion cysts (benign lumps), and treat infections.
Experienced Orthopedist in West Jersey
Our highly skilled orthopedic surgeons here at Orthopedic Associates of West Jersey can treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions for long-term pain relief through arthroscopy. To find out if you are a good candidate for the procedure, or if another treatment would work even better for you, schedule a consultation with one of our outstanding orthopedists.
If you have any questions about our practice or would like to schedule an appointment, call our clinic today at (973) 989-0888 or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you enjoy a more pain-free lifestyle once again!
