Ortho experts at Park Hospital, Senior Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mansoor, MBBS, D.Ortho, MRCS (ED), FRCS Ortho and Dr. Chanchal Deol MBBS, D.Ortho explains about the Arthroscpy as a procedure of surgery which is mainly used in conditions like arthritis and acute injuries.

1. PARK MEDICENTRES PVT. LTD.
Arthroscopy
Conditions Examined and Procedure
Park Group of Hospitals
29-Jun-17
Senior Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mansoor, MBBS, D.Ortho, MRCS (ED), FRCS Ortho and Dr. Chanchal Deol
MBBS, D Ortho explains about the arthroscopic procedure of surgery mainly used in conditions like
arthritis and acute injuries.

2. Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic Surgery which is also known as Arthroscopy in general is a generic surgery for joints with
minimal incisions. When a joint is damaged or the ruptured joint needs to be examined, an
arthroscope, which is a pencil sized instrument with small lens to it, is inserted through a small incision
to view the exact state of damage or repair of the joint.
Why is Arthroscopy a doctor’s choice?
 Quick and short procedure used
 Can be performed with the use of local or spinal anesthesia
 Less stress and trauma caused to connecting muscles and tissues
 Reduces the recovery time for the patient
Conditions examined during Arthroscopy
Osteoarthritis: The condition of wearing down of the flexible tissues between the joints is known as
osteoarthritis. Generally found in hip, knees, spine and feet. This state is also known as degenerative
arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Commonly known as inflammatory arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an
autoimmune disease wherein the body’s immune system attacks the body joints and causes
inflammation and thickens the inner lining tissue of the joints. This inflammation and thickening
causes swelling and pain in joints and the attached bones and muscles.
Acute Injuries: Arthroscopy is also used to treat some chronic joint injuries like:
 Shoulder: Rotator cuff tendon tears, impingement syndrome, and recurrent dislocations
 Knee: Cartilage tearing, worn out or injured cartilage cushion, and anterior cruciate ligament
tears with instability
 Wrist: Carpal tunnel syndrome
 Any ligament injury

3. Arthroscopy Procedure
Arthroscopy is way easier than ‘open surgery’ with context to patient recovery, however requires
aesthesia and special equipment within the hospital. As a patient you will be injected with either
spinal or local anesthesia varying according to
the joint and the examination required. A small
cut (incision) is made to insert the small lens
attached instrument (Arthroscope) along with
few other incisions to operate or view other
adjoining parts.
The moment doctor is sure of the patient
condition and has examined the joint situation, the surgery is performed. The doctor and the team is
able to view the entire joint and adjoining parts and muscles through the LCD screen within the
surgical suite attached to the lens of the arthroscope.
Post Arthroscopy
Once the surgery is done, the patient receives minimal medicines or no medicines within the recovery
room. The patient and the family receive thorough instructions from the doctor and the team to take
proper care of the incisions. These instructions would include activities to avoid and exercises /
physiotherapy to be done to fasten the recovery. There is regular follow-ups post surgery which would
be focused on the incision inspection, removal of sutures and the followed rehabilitation program of
the recovery.
There are cases when the joint / ligament injury or the disease cannot be treated just with arthroscopy
and an open surgery needs to be performed. The same can be done either while arthroscopy or any
later day as per patient condition and requirement. In that situation the recovery time would exceed
against the simple arthroscopic surgery.