Arthroscopic knee surgery is a safe and effective tool for diagnosing and treating knee problems. The word arthroscopy comes from the Greek words, “arthro” (joint) and “skopein” (to look). The term literally means to look within the joint. During the surgery, an orthopedic surgeon makes 2-3 small incisions to insert instruments into the knee joint. These instruments contain a lighting system to illuminate the structures inside the joint and a miniature camera, so the surgeon can visualize and examine the inside of the knee. They can examine the bones, cartilage, and ligaments of the knee and repair or correct various problems or injuries.
Some of the more common reasons that knee arthroscopy is done include:
- Torn meniscus
- Abnormally formed mensicus
- Fractures in or near knee joint
- Repair of torn ligaments, such as ACL, PCL, and MCL
- Persistent knee pain (for accurate diagnosis, combined with an evaluation, and imaging studies)
- Removal of inflamed lining (synovium) in the knee