Arthroscopy is a keyhole surgical procedure by making an incision the size of a keyhole to insert an arthroscope. This procedure aims to see, diagnose, and treat a number of joint disorders.
An arthroscope is a hose-like device equipped with a handle and has a pointed tip, and a flashlight and micro lens to illuminate and magnify the object being seen. Images captured by the arthroscope will be connected directly to the monitor screen.
Arthroscopic procedures are usually performed to examine and treat joint disorders in the shoulders, elbows, pelvis, wrists, ankles, and knees.
Arthroscopy Indications
Arthroscopy is used to diagnose and help with the following conditions:
- Inflammation of the shoulders, knees, elbows, ankles or hands.
- Injury that occurs in cartilage, ligaments (connective tissue that connects bone to bone), or tendons (connective tissue that connects muscle to bone).
- Impingement syndrome: syndrome of shoulder connective tissue clamps caused by excessive activity in the shoulder blades and joints.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: a condition that causes tingling, pain, or numbness in the fingers.
- Remove pieces of bone or loose cartilage.
- Drying excess fluid in the joint.
- Guide the implementation of biopsy, which is a sample of body tissue that will later be examined in a laboratory.
The doctor will consider arthroscopy if the patient experiences joint pain that does not go away, swelling, or joint stiffness whose cause is not yet known with certainty.
Arthroscopy warning
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult a doctor first before undergoing arthroscopic procedures.
- Let your doctor know if you have an allergy to certain drugs, latex, adhesives, and anesthetic drugs.
- Tell your doctor about the medicines you are taking, especially blood thinning drugs (anticoagulants).
- Tell your doctor if you have blood clotting disorders, heart failure, emphysema, high blood pressure or hypertension, and diabetes.
- Please take care of patients over 50 years old.
Before arthroscopy
Before starting the arthroscopy procedure, the doctor will ask the patient to undergo a physical examination and blood test. In addition, the doctor will ask the patient to sign the consent form, the contents of which approve the entire procedure. In this case, the patient has the right to ask the doctor about the procedure, benefits, and risks or complications that may occur.
Generally. the doctor will advise the patient to empty the stomach or fast for 8 hours before undergoing the procedure.
Arthroscopy Procedure
The doctor will initiate arthroscopy by injecting anesthesia (general anesthesia), half body, or local according to the patient's condition. When the anesthesiologist is working, the orthopedic doctor will make a small incision, about the size of a key hole in the patient's skin.
A small incision will be used as the entry point for the arthroscope. The doctor can also make new incisions on the patient's skin that aim to insert an arthroscope and see the condition in other joints.
The doctor can fill the joint with sterile fluid to dilate the joint, making it easier for the doctor to see the condition of the joint. The image of the joint captured by the arthroscope will immediately appear on the monitor screen, which will be monitored by a doctor. While monitoring the problematic joint of the patient, the doctor can also take actions such as removing or repairing damaged tissue in the joint area. Arthroscopic procedures generally last for 30-120 minutes.
After arthroscopy
The doctor will immediately close the incision and move the patient to the recovery room for some time. After that, the doctor will give medicines to relieve pain, or pair the splint on the patient if needed.
Post arthroscopy, patients are recommended to:
- Avoid heavy physical activity.
- Perform routine control so that the doctor sees the condition of the incision.
- Applying the RICE method (rest, ice, compress, and elevate) which means resting the joints that have been done by action, compressing the joint area with cold water, dressing the joints with a bit of pressure, and try to keep the joints positioned higher than the body position to eliminate pain and swelling .
Risks and Complications of Arthroscopy
Possible risks arising from arthroscopic procedures include:
- Infection. Making an incision on the patient's skin can carry the risk of infection.
- Tissue damage. Movement and use of special tools during arthroscopy can damage joint tissue.
- Blood clotting. Although rare, a surgical procedure that lasts for several hours can increase the risk of blood clots in the legs (DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism).
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