Arthroscopic Surgery: 5 Things You Should Know About This Joint Injury Treatment

Whether you're a professional athlete or just acting like one on the weekends, joint injuries are all too common. They can occur suddenly from some type of physical activity in the form of sprains, strains, or dislocations. These are known as acute injuries. Or they can occur from activities that require repetitive motions, known as repetitive motions or overuse injuries.

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive treatment option for joint injuries resulting from sports or recreational activities. Although the procedure has been available for many years, patients still come in with many questions. This is what you need to know:

1. What types of joint injuries can be treated with arthroscopic surgery?

Arthroscopic surgery can be performed on many different joints, including the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles.

When it comes to sports and recreational activities, common conditions that can be treated with arthroscopic surgery include:

Damaged cartilage

The bones are lined with a tissue called cartilage that protects your bones and provides a connection between the bones. When your cartilage is damaged, you may experience a limited ability to move in the area of ​​injury, along with stiffness and swelling.

Torn tendons and ligaments

Tendons are the tissues that connect bones to muscles and help with movement. Ligaments help stabilize the joints. ACL reconstruction is an example of an arthroscopic procedure performed to treat an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee.

An ACL injury can occur during soccer, basketball, or tennis, or during any sport, as a result of stopping / starting quickly or jumping. People with this type of injury often describe a sudden clicking sound or a feeling that the knee is crumbling.

Bone chips or cartilage fragments

Fragments of cartilage or bone can occur as a result of injury, causing pain and swelling. Sometimes called loose bodies, these small fragments may or may not be seen on an X-ray. During an arthroscopic procedure, your surgeon can find the fragments and remove them.

Instability or dislocation

We see quite a few dislocated shoulders as a result of sports injuries or falls. When a joint slips out of place, you may experience sudden or severe pain and feel like the joint is loose. If the joint does not return on its own, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Even if it does return to its place, it is a good idea to have the area evaluated to make sure the joint remains in place and that you do not have damage that may worsen over time.

Joint swelling

When you have an injury, such as a torn or dislocated ligament, your body responds by increasing blood flow to the affected area. This causes heat, swelling, and stiffness that can become chronic.

An arthroscopic procedure may be an option when conservative treatments, such as medication and physical therapy, are not enough to help heal inflammation.