What is arthroscopic surgery?
Dr. Lewis uses arthroscopic surgery, or arthroscopy, to visually examine, diagnose, and treat problems inside your joint. In fact, “arthroscopy” stems from two Greek words that combine to mean “to look inside the joint.”
During an arthroscopic procedure, Dr. Lewis makes a very small incision in your skin and inserts a pencil-sized instrument called an arthroscope. This specialized instrument has a camera lens and lighting system that displays an image of your joint’s interior on a screen.
Arthroscopy provides the most accurate diagnosis of whatever condition may be responsible for your joint pain and inflammation.
Depending on your condition, Dr. Lewis may also be able to treat your problem with arthroscopic surgery. He uses miniature surgical instruments attached to the arthroscope to fix the issue without making a large incision.
What joints can an orthopaedic surgeon perform arthroscopy on?
While Dr. Lewis can view just about every joint with an arthroscope, he most commonly uses it to diagnose and treat problems with these joints:
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Knee
- Hip
- Wrist
Arthroscopic surgery is an appealing alternative to open surgery for many common conditions, such as:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Rotator cuff tears
- Impingement syndrome
- Shoulder instability
- ACL, MCL, LCL, and PCL tears in the knee
- Meniscal tears
What are the benefits of arthroscopic surgery?
Arthroscopic surgery is much less invasive than traditional open surgery, offering these advantages:
- Smaller incision (about the size of a buttonhole)
- Faster recovery time
- Less pain
- Reduced risk of infection
- No need for hospital stay
What should I expect from my arthroscopic procedure?
Dr. Lewis performs arthroscopic surgeries as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. The type of anesthesia he recommends depends on your needs. He may use general, spinal, or local anesthesia depending on the procedure.
He makes a very small incision to insert the arthroscope and perform the surgery. He may need to make multiple incisions to see various parts of your joint.
The amount of time it takes for both surgery and recovery depends on the extent of your procedure. Before you’re discharged, Dr. Lewis provides detailed instructions on how to care for your joint.
If you think you need joint surgery and want to ensure the best possible outcome, call Columbus Shoulder Surgery & Sports Medicine or book an appointment online today.
