New Treatment Methods for Knee Pain

Memorial Ankara Hospital Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Prof. Dr. Hakan Özsoy shared important information about knee arthroscopy, a method frequently used in the treatment of many knee problems.

Arthroscopy Provides the Opportunity to Visualize All These Structures

Arthroscopy is the visualization of the knee joint with high-magnification cameras. It has been used frequently since the 1970s and its use is increasing steadily. The knee joint contains menisci, ligaments and cartilage. Menisci are structures that act as a kind of shock absorber and cushion between the bones. Ligaments are structures that connect and hold bones together and allow the joint to move smoothly. Cartilage is a smooth coating layer that covers the bones. With arthroscopy, it is possible to visualize all these structures and perform their treatments. It is most frequently used in cases of meniscal, ligamentous and cartilage injuries within the joint. Other areas where knee arthroscopy is used are as follows;

• Recurrent joint swelling that occurs without apparent cause or due to benign tumors
• Treatment of benign tumors within the joint
• Cleaning the joint and sample removal if there is infection or inflammation within the joint
• Confirmation of suspected infection in a prosthesis or plate in the joint
• Treatment of small intra-articular fractures
• Confirmation of whether a dislocation, particularly of the kneecap, has returned to its proper position
• Loosening of a stiff, immobile joint

Knee Arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy has many advantages compared to open surgery. One of these is that every area of the knee, including behind the knee, can be visualized in great detail with arthroscopy. Since narrow areas can also be seen very clearly, the area that can be treated is very wide. Thanks to arthroscopy, we can reach more areas in greater detail than what we see with our eyes in open surgery. Since the joint is accessed with two pen-sized instruments, the tissue damage caused by arthroscopic surgery is quite minimal compared to open surgery.

Patient Recovery Process is Accelerated

While open surgery involves a recovery period lasting weeks, with arthroscopy in a simple meniscal procedure, the patient begins to move more comfortably within 1 week after the holes close. If meniscal repair is performed with arthroscopy, the patient puts full weight within 3 weeks; if anterior cruciate ligament surgery is involved, the patient returns to work within 3-4 weeks. Since intra-articular injuries are very common in sports branches such as football and basketball, the arthroscopy method is frequently used in these cases. Patients practicing contact sports return to normal activities within 6-9 months. If multiple ligaments in the joint are injured, this period may extend to 9 months to 1 year.

Knee Arthroscopy in the Treatment of Malignant Tumors

Knee arthroscopy can be applied in all age groups. In children, there are sometimes congenital shape abnormalities in the menisci, which can cause joint locking. In these cases, arthroscopy is used. When an infection called septic arthritis is seen in a child's knee, the inflammation can be drained arthroscopically rather than through large incisions. Knee arthroscopy is not used in the treatment of malignant tumors. Arthroscopy, which can be performed even in the presence of infection, is performed with consideration if there is vascular occlusion in the leg. The anesthesia method most suitable for the patient's condition is selected through joint decision of the anesthesiologist and patient. It can be performed with spinal anesthesia or with numbing of the leg through a single needle injection in the groin. If the patient has no health issues, the preferred method is generally general anesthesia.