8 Advantages of Arthroscopic Knee Surgery and Recovery

Did your last tennis game leave you with an extensive shoulder injury? Maybe you’ve torn your rotator cuff or injured your knee on the basketball court. You want to get back into the game as soon as possible. 

For many injuries–including knee injuries– arthroscopic knee surgery is a viable treatment option that is minimally invasive and highly effective. 

At Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we’re proud to offer the latest, state-of-the-art arthroscopic surgical treatment to help us treat and diagnose problems within your joints. It also produces successful outcomes, especially for arthroscopic knee surgery and recovery. If you want to know more about how we can help you, we invite you to request an appointment.

Not sure what to expect after arthroscopic knee surgery? Want to learn more about how arthroscopic surgery can help with shoulder injuries?

We’ve got the answers you need as well as 8 distinct advantages of utilizing this minimally invasive surgical technique.

What Is Arthroscopic Surgery?

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure on the joints. It is commonly performed on knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, and shoulders. This procedure is instrumental in diagnosing joint problems. It involves making a narrow incision and inserting a thin tube (called an arthroscope) that is attached to a tiny, fiber-optic video camera. 

Then the images are relayed to a video monitor so one of our orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh can carefully evaluate the problem area.

Depending upon the extent and scope of the injury, your surgeon may be able to repair the problem using small surgical instruments that are also inserted through very small incisions. 

Next, we’ll take a closer look at eight of the main advantages of arthroscopic surgery.

8 Advantages of Arthroscopic Surgery

1. Smaller incisions

Because the arthroscope only needs a tiny incision, your recovery is faster. There’s also less blood loss as compared to an “open” procedure where larger incisions have to be made.

2. It can be performed as an outpatient

Due to its minimally invasive technique, arthroscopic surgery can be performed as an outpatient. This is not only more economical, but it also means that you can return home several hours after the surgery.

3. You can return to work faster

Not only can you return home a few hours after your procedure, but in general, many patients resume work and regular activities within a few days. (However, athletes and those who are very active in sports may need to wait a few weeks before returning to their routine.) This is one of the key benefits of arthroscopic knee surgery and recovery.

4. It minimizes trauma to healthy tissue

With a traditional, “open” procedure, some tissue may need to be cut to give the orthopedic surgeon access to the problem area. 

5. Less scarring

Because arthroscopic surgery is conducted using tiny incisions, it minimizes scar tissue because the surgeon is able to easily adjust the tiny tools to get access to the problem area. This means less damage to healthy tissue.

When the procedure is completed, you’ll only have evidence of a small incision where the arthroscope was placed. 

6. Reduced risk of infection

Because the incisions are so small, less internal tissue is exposed, which greatly reduces the risk of infection.

7. Less postoperative pain

It’s common to experience some discomfort and pain after any surgery. However, with arthroscopic surgery, the postoperative pain is much less because the incisions were so small. It’s one of the great benefits of arthroscopic knee surgery and recovery. 

8. Less blood loss during surgery

After arthroscopic knee surgery and recovery, patients find that they have lost less blood than they would have with an “open” procedure. This is because arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive. 

What to Expect After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

Arthroscopic knee surgery and recovery varies according to each patient’s individual situation. There is no magic formula to determine how long it will take you to fully recover.

However, we have compiled this general guideline on what to expect after arthroscopic knee surgery.

The week of the surgery, you’ll find that you may be able to walk with minimal pain. As we discussed, this is because the arthroscope uses small incisions instead of one large “open” incision. 

During this first week, you’ll likely need to use a walker or cane. This will help take some of the pressure off your knee.

During this time, we’ll examine you to monitor how your healing is progressing. At this point, we may recommend physical therapy, depending upon your individual situation.

When Can I Return to Work After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery?

This is perhaps the most common question we receive, and there is no one answer. A lot of it depends upon the type of work you do. 

For example, someone who has a desk job will be able to return to work sooner than someone who has a job that requires a lot of manual labor. 

In general, you can return to work within two to six weeks after surgery. 

The most important thing to remember is to speak with us before you begin working. Failure to do so could cause you to re-injure yourself. 

Within three to four months after surgery, you’ll notice great improvements in both your strength and range of motion. 

While you still may have swelling and pain, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying some of your regular activities. 

However, please speak with us before you engage in any high-contact sports, as these could lead to reinjury.

The Raleigh Bone Joint Surgery Clinic Is the Area’s Leader in Arthroscopic Surgery 

All of our board-certified orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh have received extensive training and are experts in arthroscopic surgery. 

We’ve worked with hundreds of area patients to help them return to the activities they once loved. Because arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive, you can expect to return to work faster with minimal pain and scarring.

Want to discover more? Just contact us to schedule an appointment. 

Do I Have to Have Surgery For a Rotator Cuff Injury?

Do you suspect you may have a rotator cuff tear? Have you been examined by a doctor who told you have a rotator cuff injury? Perhaps you had an MRI that showed rotator cuff tearing or tendonitis?

You may be very worried about your shoulder and symptoms you may be having such as pain, weakness, and loss of motion. 

You may be worried about these problems getting worse, interfering with your sleep or ability to work, and reducing your quality of life.

 You may also be worried that this diagnosis means you will need surgery on your shoulder.

What Are the Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Injury?

A torn rotator cuff primarily affects the shoulder joint. 

Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include:

• A dull shoulder ache
• Difficulty sleeping due to pain
• Weakness
• Limited range of motion—it may be difficult to comb your hair or do anything that requires reaching behind your back

Do All Rotator Cuff Injuries Require Surgery?

Some rotator cuff injuries indeed require surgery, however, there are many reasons to look forward to living the life that you love, working and playing without pain, and healing your shoulder…without surgical treatment.

At The Bone & Joint Surgery Clinic, surgery is usually only considered as a “last resort,” when all other non-surgical treatment options have failed.

How Is a Rotator Cuff Injury Treated?

Your path to healing always begins with a personal visit with one of our orthopaedic physicians. They will ask you many questions about your shoulder pain:

• When did it begin?
• Was there an injury or did it quietly get worse over weeks or months?
• Do you have any history of old injuries to the shoulder?
• What things make it better or worse?
• Where is the pain?

X-Rays will likely be obtained, and the physician will examine your shoulder to determine the cause of your pain and your exact problem.

Treatment may often consist of simple watchful waiting, especially if you have good strength and motion of your shoulder and your pain began recently.

However, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy, either at home or with a therapist, is usually recommended as well.

Reducing inflammation and improving and maintaining your strength and range of motion is always a good idea, even if you have had an injury that continues to improve.

If your pain is very severe, your orthopaedic doctor at The Bone & Joint Surgery Clinic may recommend or offer a steroid injection.

Think of these like an anti-inflammatory medication you take by mouth, only it is targeted to the area that is generating your pain. These can be very effective and help to settle inflammation in the involved shoulder, especially while therapy is started to fix the underlying problem.

If you have signs and symptoms that are very worrisome, such as severe weakness, loss of motion, or persistent pain despite therapy and medications, your surgeon may obtain an MRI to evaluate your rotator cuff and shoulder joint.

This is especially the case if you are young or very active. Your surgeon at The Bone & Joint Surgery Clinic will personally review the MRI and talk to you about what it shows.

Another option is ultrasound. In some situations, your orthopaedic provider may be able to use ultrasound to evaluate for tearing of the rotator cuff. This can provide reassurance and peace of mind to both the patient and doctor when the goal is to rule out major rotator cuff injury.

It is also very important to keep in mind that rotator cuff tears usually happen at the same time as other shoulder problems.

Stiffness and inflammation, a combination often known as “bursitis” or “frozen shoulder,” often occur along with rotator cuff tears and usually respond to non-surgical treatments.

As we age, many of us have small tears in our rotator cuff that do not cause pain, and your orthopaedic doctor at The Bone & Joint Surgery Clinic will determine if the rotator cuff tear is simple painless “wear and tear” or if it is the source of your pain.

How Does the Rotator Cuff Work?

It is helpful to think of the rotator cuff as a thick rope made out of many small strands or threads. If some of the threads break and tear, that is OK because the rest of the threads are intact and the rope is still able to stand up to pulling and heavy loads.

However, if all the threads break and the rope snaps completely, this is a more serious problem because the rotator cuff muscle can no longer function at all. This is the most common reason why patients have rotator cuff repair surgery.

Our Experienced Orthopedists Are Partners in Your Care

If you have a rotator cuff injury and don’t know if you need surgery, the orthopaedic care teams at The Bone & Joint Surgery Clinic are here for you.

Our experienced specialists will give you all the information you need and will make decisions WITH you, not for you.

What Type of Injuries Can Benefit from Arthroscopic Surgery? 

You’re playing a pickup basketball game with your friends when you seize the opportunity for the perfect jump shot. You make the goal—but land awkwardly. Then the pain starts. 

The bad news: chances are you may have torn your ACL. The good news: arthroscopic surgery means you can get relief from a non-invasive technique that will help you recover faster—and our team of experienced orthopedic surgeons in Raleigh can help. 

4 Injuries That Can Benefit from Arthroscopic Surgery

The most common injuries treated with arthroscopic surgery include:

1. Meniscus Tears

This is a common knee injury that occurs when you twist your knee and tear one of the C-shaped pieces of cartilage located between your thigh bone (femur) and your shinbone (tibia). If you’ve torn your meniscus, you may notice:

• Swelling
• Stiffness
• A “popping” feeling
• Pain

You may also either feel like your knee is locked or that it might “give way.”

2. Torn Rotator Cuffs

Having issues working on your golf swing? It may be due to a torn rotator cuff,   a common injury in sports like tennis, baseball, swimming, and golf. It can also be the result of heavy lifting—essentially any activity that causes you to repeatedly move your arms over your head. 

3. Achilles Tendon Tears

An Achilles tendon tear is particularly painful and is often preceded by a loud pop. While an Achilles tendon tear can happen to anyone, it most likely occurs in those who are playing sports. Arthroscopic surgery is often needed to regain the ability to walk smoothly. 

Symptoms of an Achilles tendon tear include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Inability to push the foot downward
• A sore calf or the feeling of being kicked in the calf
• Inability to stand on toes

4. Shoulder Impingement

Shoulder impingement happens when the tendons in your shoulder rub against the bones in the shoulder joint. As a result, there’s pain and inflammation—particularly when you lift your arm overhead. 

In addition to pain, symptoms of shoulder impingement include stiffness and weakness.

Arthroscopic surgery can improve the condition by repairing damage to any ligaments or tendons as well as removing any bone spurs or growths that may be contributing to the impingement. 

Pain From Injuries? See If You Can Benefit From Arthroscopic Surgery in Raleigh

We’re a step above your typical orthopedic practices. In addition to the decades of expertise of our health care team and board-certified physicians we have more than 50 years of serving Wake County as the oldest and most well-known orthopedic practices. 

Don’t let pain keep you from the everyday activities of daily living—these are too vital to your quality of life! Contact us for an appointment today.