What is the anatomy of the knee?
Your knees are the largest joints in your body, which makes sense given the enormous amount of support, mobility, and range of motion they provide. At the heart of this large joint are three bones, your patella (kneecap), femur (thigh bone), and tibia (shinbone).
However, most knee problems involve not these bones, but rather the soft tissue in your knee, including your:
- Ligaments
- Cartilage
- Tendons
- Muscles
- Menisci (two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage in your knee)
What is knee arthroscopy?
Knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure in which Dr. Parsa relies on small, specialized equipment and cameras to diagnose and treat soft tissue damage in your knees. Because of the size of the tools and the use of real-time video, Dr. Parsa doesn’t need to resort to open surgery, which carries more risk and requires more recovery time.
What can knee arthroscopy treat?
Using this advanced technique, Dr. Parsa is able to get inside your knee to take a closer look at what’s causing your problem. When it comes to soft tissue damage, diagnostic imaging can only reveal so much. Thanks to arthroscopic techniques, Dr. Parsa can see for herself what the problem is and decide whether she can treat it during the same procedure.
When in treatment mode, Dr. Parsa can use knee arthroscopy to:
- Repair a meniscus tear
- Correct a cartilage defect
- Repair your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), or lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
- Remove or trim your cartilage
- Remove loose pieces of bone or soft tissue
What is recovery from knee arthroscopy like?
Dr. Parsa is usually able to perform a knee arthroscopy on an outpatient basis, meaning you’re free to return home afterward. You should, however, plan on having someone there to drive you home.
Your recovery depends on the extent of the surgical repair performed, and Dr. Parsa sends you home with complete instructions to help you heal as quickly as possible. As part of your aftercare, you should also expect to participate in some physical therapy to make sure your knee is stabilized and strengthened properly.
Thanks to the arthroscopic technique that Dr. Parsa uses, your small incisions should heal within a week or two.
If you’d like to have your knee problem(s) addressed in one minimally invasive procedure, call Parsa Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Institute or schedule an appointment with online booking to learn more about knee arthroscopy.
