Let's learn everything about knee arthroscopy, a surgery performed using a camera for knee injuries!

Do you suffer from persistent knee pain? Do you hear a clicking sound when you walk or bend your knee, or does your knee feel like it's getting stuck? It could be a sports injury. At times like these, your doctor may tell you about 'keyhole surgery', a procedure that involves inserting a camera into your knee. Many people have heard of this, but they don't know exactly how it's done or why. Don't worry, today we're talking about knee arthroscopy.

What is Knee Arthroscopy?

Simply put, this is a special surgical procedure used to look inside the knee joint and treat problems there. The biggest advantage of this is that it does not require a large cut into the knee like traditional open surgery.

Imagine, this entire surgery is done through two or three small incisions, like a keyhole.

• Through one small incision, a device (arthroscope) about the size of a pencil and equipped with a small camera is inserted into the knee joint.
• This camera magnifies everything inside the knee, such as cartilage, ligaments, and meniscus, and clearly displays it on a TV monitor in the operating room.
• The doctor can look at it and figure out exactly what the problem is, and if treatment is needed, he can insert delicate surgical instruments through other small incisions and repair the damage right there.

This is called a minimally invasive procedure , meaning there is very little damage and scarring to the body.

Who needs this surgery?

Usually, the first thing we do for knee pain is rest, ice, take painkillers (NSAIDs), and do physical therapy (PT). However, if these things do not reduce the pain and the function of the knee is impaired, the doctor may consider this Knee Arthroscopy surgery.

It is used a lot for sports injuries, especially in young children. These injuries are common in jumping sports like volleyball and contact sports like football.

What kind of things is this method used for?

Doctors use this surgery for three main purposes. Let's understand it in a table like this.

What happens before and during the surgery?

Before surgery

After scheduling your surgery, your doctor will ask you about any medications you are taking. You may be asked to stop taking blood thinners a few days before your surgery. Your doctor will also advise you on when to stop eating and drinking the night before your surgery.

Before the surgery begins, you will be given anesthesia. So you will not feel any pain during the surgery. The doctor will choose one of these methods depending on your condition:

• Local anesthetic: Numbs only the knee.
• Regional anesthetic: A numbing agent from the waist down (a drug injected into the spine).
• General anesthetic: Anesthesia that puts you completely asleep until the surgery is complete.

During surgery

1. First, your leg will be thoroughly cleaned and your knee will be immobilized with a special device to prevent it from moving during the surgery.

2. Then the doctor makes a small incision in the knee and inserts the camera-equipped device (arthroscope) that I mentioned earlier.

3. Now the doctor can see what's inside the knee on the TV screen. He can see exactly where the problem is and, if necessary, treat it by making one or two more small incisions and inserting delicate instruments through them.

4. These instruments are used to stitch torn tissue, scrape away damaged cartilage, or remove swollen tissue.

5. Finally, those small incisions are closed with stitches or special plasters (surgical strips), and a large bandage is applied to the knee.

How should I stay at home after surgery?

This is often an outpatient procedure. The surgery usually takes about an hour. However, sometimes you may have to stay in the hospital for a day. You won't be able to drive home, so you'll need someone to drive you home.

You need to be very careful about these things in the first few days after surgery:

• Do not put weight on the leg: Avoid putting weight on the operated leg until your doctor tells you to. You will need to use crutches to walk.
• Keep your leg elevated: To reduce swelling and control pain, try to keep your leg elevated above the level of your heart whenever possible, like on a pillow.
• Take painkillers correctly: Take painkillers and other medications (e.g., blood thinners) prescribed by your doctor exactly as prescribed and at the right time.
• Keep the wound clean: Do not remove the bandage. Keep it clean and dry. Ask your doctor or nurse when to change the bandage and when you can shower.

After you recover a little, your doctor will refer you to physical therapy . That's a must. There, they will teach you exercises to strengthen the muscles around your knee and to help you bend and straighten your knee properly. That's very important for you to recover quickly and completely.

When to see a doctor immediately after surgery

If you experience any of these symptoms after surgery, you should call your doctor immediately or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

• If the wounds continue to bleed.
• If you see signs of infection, such as fever, excessive swelling, redness, and pus around the wound.
• If you have severe pain that cannot be controlled even with painkillers.
• If you notice something like numbness in your leg or a change in color in your foot.

This surgery is a very safe and effective treatment. If you follow your doctor's instructions exactly and do the physical therapy treatments correctly, you will be able to return to your normal life quickly.

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