Knee Arthroscopy in Perth
Knee arthroscopy in Perth with Dr Rhys Clark — keyhole surgery to diagnose and treat meniscus tears, cartilage damage and loose fragments. Usually a day-case procedure.
What is knee arthroscopy
Knee arthroscopy is a form of keyhole surgery that involves inserting a small telescope (arthroscope) into the knee to help diagnosis and/or treat common knee injuries. The cartilage and ligaments in your knee are important and specialised components of your knee joint. They are also individually susceptible to damage and pain. The small camera on the end of the telescope projects the image onto a nearby monitor that allows your surgeon to get a closer look at your knee joint. If a diagnosis is made, treatment can happen simultaneously through another small incision in your knee.
“The use of specialised equipment in arthroscopic surgery means less pain and a quicker recovery time that gets you back to doing the things you enjoy,” says Dr Rhys Clark.
Am I a candidate?
If you have damaged the cartilage in your knee or have torn your meniscus, a knee arthroscopy may be used to repair or remove the damaged structures. Other possible reasons for requiring an arthroscopic procedure can include the removal of loose fragments of bone or cartilage, or for cleaning out an infection. An arthroscopy will rarely be used for observational purposes alone.
What’s involved?
Dr Rhys Clark will make two or three small incisions, one for the small camera (arthroscope), and one or two more for the small surgical instruments. Because a knee arthroscopy is a keyhole operation, it is often treated as a day-case surgery. The procedure takes roughly fifteen to thirty minutes to complete, depending on your diagnosis. You can typically go home four to six hours after having your surgery.
How long does a knee arthroscopy take?+
The procedure itself usually takes roughly fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on the diagnosis and what needs to be treated.
Is knee arthroscopy day surgery?+
Usually, yes. Because it is a keyhole operation it is often treated as a day case, and most patients can go home four to six hours after surgery.
What conditions can a knee arthroscopy treat?+
It is commonly used to repair or remove a torn meniscus or damaged cartilage, to remove loose fragments of bone or cartilage, and to clean out an infection. An arthroscopy is rarely used for observation alone — if a diagnosis is made during the procedure, treatment can usually be carried out at the same time through a second small incision.
How many incisions are made?+
Two or three small incisions — one for the arthroscope and one or two for the surgical instruments.