What is arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is an orthopaedic surgical procedure that covers the examination, diagnosis and treatment of bone joint complications. The usual symptoms are inflammation, injury or damage in joints on the ankle, knees, hip, elbow, wrist or shoulder. The process involves insertion of a fine tube fitted with a fibre-optic video camera by creating an incision in the specific joint to be examined. This allows Dr. Manit Arora to get high definition pictures of the inside of the joint, which he can view on a large display screen.
How is arthroscopy performed on patients?
Generally, arthroscopy is performed by doctors at the outpatient department (OPD) operation area, which makes it a same day procedure. This allows patients to return home on the very day that the procedure is performed. Depending on the condition of the patient, Dr. Arora will administer the anaesthesia which could be local or general. General anaesthesia puts the patient to sleep while local anaesthesia numbs the particular area of the body where the surgery is being performed. The doctor can even conduct certain types of surgery during the arthroscopy itself with the help of fine thin surgical equipment that can be inserted into the joints through additional little incisions.
What is the outcome of arthroscopic surgery?
After an arthroscopic surgery, a patient will experience much less pain as compared to what s/he would experience after an open surgery. After an arthroscopic surgery, a patient will experience much less pain as compared to what s/he would experience after an open surgery. That’s because the incisions are very small and in the nature of puncture injuries. Dr. Arora may or may not stich up the incisions depending on the size of the punctures; patients would have to visit the hospital to get the stiches removed if the stiches are not dissolvable.