Arthroscopy of the knee joint is an endoscopic surgical method for the joint, in this case, the knee. This type of surgery uses minimally invasive methods for access. It is used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Indications for Surgery
The knee joint is structured as the interaction of two hinges. The difference from a typical mechanical structure is that the knee joint has the ability to rotate. The bones involved in forming the joint are connected by menisci and cartilage, which acts as a kind of cushion. The main support for the joint relies on its four ligaments. If these ligaments weaken, the knee joint becomes unstable. In such a situation, the muscles partially take on the role of the ligaments. Arthroscopy of the knee joint, as a diagnostic method, is an excellent way to accurately determine the condition of all its components. The data obtained after thorough analysis allows for identifying the cause of such damage, as well as clarifying the possibility of conservative treatment or indications for surgical intervention.
Diagnosis of the Knee Joint in Israel
In addition to collecting medical history for performing knee arthroscopy, detailed consultations with leading specialists in orthopedics and anesthesiology are conducted at Ichilov Clinic.
Surgical intervention is indicated for:
- Meniscus injury
- Inflammatory processes (e.g., in rheumatism) of the synovial membrane of the knee joint
- Damage to the ligamentous apparatus of the knee joint
- Dislocation and dysplasia of the knee joint
- Congenital deformities of the joint.
Procedure of Knee Arthroscopy
The surgery is performed using the latest ultra-thin instruments and optical devices. The technique is minimally invasive. This allows the orthopedic surgeon to make very small incisions. The advantage of this technique is also that rehabilitation after the surgical procedure takes only 4-5 days. At the beginning of the surgical intervention, the surgeon makes two small incisions in the form of punctures up to 5 mm long. A camera is inserted into them for visualization of the surgeon's actions on the monitor. To increase the volume of the knee joint cavity, it is filled with saline. Thus, the surgeon is provided unobstructed access to all parts of the joint. Based on the data obtained from the knee arthroscopy, the surgeon decides whether the patient needs knee replacement surgery.