Knee arthroscopy is an excellent way for specialists to look inside your knee without making big cuts. It is a better way than other tests like x-rays and such. There’s an entire array of procedures. Let’s simplify them for you when you visit the knee doctor in Melbourne.
The Preparation Stage
Before the initial surgery, there will be some phases of preparation.
1. Checkups
Before the surgery, you might have to visit the primary doctor for a checkup. They will evaluate your general health and fitness for the surgery. This is to avoid any health risks and unnecessary complications.
If you’re found unfit for any reason, other measures will be taken. You might have to undergo specific treatments pre-surgery to become fit for the surgery. This phase might also include various tests, including blood tests.
2. An Outpatient Approach
In most cases, if found healthy, you won’t have to stay overnight after or before the surgery. You will just have to follow specific instructions on when to stop eating or drinking before the surgery. During these instructions, if you take any supplements or medicines, you will have to consult with the specialist and learn whether you should take them or not.
For generally healthy patients, an outpatient approach is used for immediate surgery.
3. The Anesthesia Phase
Once you are ready for the knee arthroscopy, you will receive anesthesia. The anesthesia expert will talk to you regarding the requirements. There are three types of anesthesia procedures, depending on the conditions:
- The first is local anesthesia, where your knee area will get numb.
- Regional anesthesia is the second choice to numb your entire lower body (from the waist down).
- The third is general anesthesia which will put you to sleep.
In most cases, local anesthesia is sufficient. But the surgeon and anesthesia specialist will consult with you to help you with the best option.
The Surgery Stage
The surgery stage takes place in three segments:
1. Pre-Surgery Preparations
You will get prepped for the surgery. This includes giving you the correct dose of anesthesia. Your knees and skin will get cleaned. You will receive the drapes and other essential equipment for the incision site. In some cases, an additional device or instrument might be used to help you position your knee better for the arthroscopy.
2. The Initial Procedure
Next will be the initial procedure. In this stage, the surgeon will make a small incision. The cloudy fluid will get discharged and cleaned. They will then examine the inside of your knee. For this, the surgeon will use an arthroscope to look inside the knee through the incision they made. The incisions are popularly known as portals.
3. Diagnosis
During the arthroscopy, the surgeon will study your knee and diagnose the problem. There will be an image projected out of arthroscopy on the screen for them to navigate. In some cases, if it is a minor inconvenience, the surgeon could use specialised tools and equipment to conduct and finish the surgery right there. In this case, they will provide the necessary treatment.
They will have a wide array of tools from shaving to cutting, even taking care of any foreign object. There will be tools for stitching, as well, if needed.
4. Finishing Up
Once the arthroscopy finishes or the surgery takes place, you will receive a soft bandage on the incision. The entire procedure will last for an hour at best. However, if there’s additional surgery, the length of the treatment could increase depending on the required treatment. If there are more incisions, steri-strips and stitches might come to use. Post-surgery recovery will depend on you.
