Arthroscopic Knee Surgery Q&A

Arthroscopic knee surgery is a surgical procedure that allows the surgeon to view the inside of the knee joint without having to make large incisions in the patient’s skin and other soft tissue. This surgery is commonly used to diagnose and treat a wide range of knee problems.

During arthroscopic knee surgery, the surgeon will make a small incision near the area to be treated and will then insert a tiny camera called an arthroscope. This camera will relay images to a video monitor located in the operating room for the surgeon to use as a guide when operating on the injured area.  This procedure causes less pain for the patient than a large incision would, and results in less joint stiffness and a shortened recovery time.

Most patients need around 2 to 4 weeks to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery, and it can take longer depending on the severity of the injury. Normal activities will need to be restricted following surgery until the strength and movement of the knee is back to normal, and it may also be recommended that you visit a physical therapist to help with rehabilitation. You may feel tired for several days after the surgery, your knee may be swollen and your skin may look discolored near the incisions, but as your recovery progresses the swelling will go down and the pain will begin to subside.

One of the main things to help in your recovery following arthroscopic knee surgery is icing the affected knee, which is known to help with post-surgery pain and swelling. To prevent getting your incisions wet place a thin towel on your knee and apply ice onto the towel over the treated area. Take the medications your surgeon prescribed to you post-surgery to help with pain management, and make sure you read the directions carefully and follow them precisely. Finally, get plenty of rest. It is highly recommended that when you sleep, you elevate your knee by propping some pillows underneath it; this will also help with the pain and swelling.

Any surgery can be considered major surgery due to the potential risks involved, however arthroscopic knee surgery is a good alternative to other, more invasive, surgeries as the risks are limited and the outlook for the patient is usually good.  The recovery time and prognosis will mainly depend on the severity of the injury and the complexity of the procedure involved.

As with any surgery there will be associated risks and, though rare, they can happen.  Some of these complications include:

-Excessive bleeding during the procedure
-Infection at the incision site(s) if the area is not maintained well after surgery
-Allergic reactions to the anesthesia used or other medications administered during your surgery
-Bleeding inside the knee joint
-Formation of a blood clot in the treated leg
-Infection inside the joint
-Stiffness in the knee
-Injury or damage to your cartilage, ligaments, meniscus, blood vessels or other nerves in the knee

If you would like to speak to one of our doctors about arthroscopic knee surgery, call us today or book an appointment online. We are available by appointment only Monday to Friday, and we have two great locations to choose from in Nashville, TN and Gallatin, TN. We serve patients from Gallatin TN, Nashville TN, Castalian Springs TN, LaGuardo TN, Cottontown TN, and Graball TN.