The most traumatic, minimally invasive type of joint surgery is arthroscopic surgery, which has long become routine at the Top Ihilov clinic, with thousands performed annually. Arthroscopy is conducted for diagnostic purposes to assess the condition of the joints and the necessity of performing a particular type of treatment. The extensive experience of the doctors and their refined skills make arthroscopy the safest option, as there is minimal blood loss, the surgical wound is very small, thus significantly reducing the risk of infection. Another important advantage of joint arthroscopy in Israel is the short recovery period: after just a few days, the limb regains its motor function.
Indications
Diagnostic arthroscopy is used when other diagnostic methods (such as X-rays) do not provide a complete picture of the disease. It is used for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of various types of joint pathologies:
Hip joint
It is used to eliminate femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, cartilage tears, and to remove foreign bodies. It is also indicated when a patient has a round ligament injury, sciatic nerve entrapment, or osteoarthritis. Arthroscopy is invaluable in cases where doctors need to take a biopsy or determine the feasibility of joint replacement.
Knee joint
During arthroscopic surgery, various meniscus and cruciate ligament injuries are addressed, and micro-tears in cartilage tissue are eliminated. Orthopedic surgeons perform arthroscopic surgeries to stabilize the patella, remove neoplasms in the joint, and so on.
Wrist joint
It is used in the treatment of chronic tendon strains that occurred after an injury, in the treatment of ligament tears and injuries, and fractures of the wrist bones.
Shoulder joint
Arthroscopy is widely used for the treatment of tendon and muscle injuries; it is also used in cases of unstable shoulder joints, osteoarthritis, and injuries to the joint cavities.
Spine
In some cases, it is possible to treat intervertebral hernias and eliminate spinal deformities using arthroscopy. Doctors at the Top Ihilov clinic also use this technique for removing neoplasms from the spine and treating injuries. In situations where a full-scale spinal surgery was previously performed, minimally invasive arthroscopic intervention is now successfully carried out.
How arthroscopy is performed
At the Top Ihilov clinic, there are strict standards that are adhered to when arthroscopy is necessary. A patient examination is mandatory, aimed at ensuring that the intervention is as precise as possible, without traumatizing healthy tissues. An important aspect is also the assessment of the patient's overall condition. Although arthroscopic surgery is the least traumatic, doctors must be sure that the surgical intervention has no contraindications.
Before arthroscopy, the following types of examinations are conducted:
- Examination and consultation with an orthopedic surgeon and anesthesiologist
- Laboratory blood and urine tests
- X-ray of the joint area where pathology is detected
- ECG
- Fluorography
- MRI
The arthroscopic surgery itself is performed under local or general anesthesia. The orthopedic surgeon makes several small incisions in the area of pathology, these incisions are very small, ranging from 4 to 7 mm. Then, a special instrument that illuminates the operating area and transmits its image to a monitor—the arthroscope—is inserted through one of the incisions. Only specially trained surgeons have the skills to perform the surgery without visual control, monitoring their manipulations through the image on the monitor. The Top Ihilov clinic has enough such specialists.
Next, a tube is inserted through another incision, which is delivered to the damaged joint. A saline solution is supplied through the tube, its purpose is to enlarge the joint cavity, making it easier for the surgeon to operate. Special surgical instruments are introduced through the next incision.
The doctor performs the necessary manipulations, then removes all instruments and tools, and injects medications into the area of pathology to prevent inflammation. The doctor then sutures the incisions. Since the wounds are very small, after healing, they leave tiny, almost invisible stitches. After suturing, a tight sterile bandage is applied to the wound.
The duration of the surgery depends on the type and complexity of the pathology. It usually takes one to three hours. Complexity also affects the length of stay in the hospital: in some cases, the patient is discharged the next day, while in others, some time under medical supervision is required.
Although after arthroscopic surgery the patient can move the limb within a few hours, doctors provide very clear instructions: for the first day, it is advisable not to load the limb, and it is best to lie in bed. Then follow rehabilitation measures, which are no less important than the treatment itself. In particular, the Top Ihilov clinic conducts therapeutic exercises, massage, and physiotherapy. The rehabilitation program is developed individually for each patient. The time for complete recovery depends on the type of pathology, usually occurring within one month to six months.
Cost of arthroscopy in Israel
The pricing policy at the Top Ihilov clinic is established according to the state pricing standards in the field of medicine that are accepted in Israel. For patients, the surgery costs significantly less (by 30-50%) than if they were to have the exact same procedure in Germany, France, or the USA. The price of arthroscopy in Israel in each specific case depends on which joint is to be treated, how serious the pathology is, and its treatment. All patients planning to treat their joints at Top Ihilov should fill out an application on the website, and a clinic staff member will personally consult each one.
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