In arthroscopy, part of the meniscus is removed. As a result, the knee has considerably less support and absorbancy. In time, osteoarthritis in the knee worsens, and the only option for successful treatment is a total knee replacement.
If the meniscus has been removed, even if a small piece has been removed, then the stress on the articular cartilage increase 3-fold. That can cause osteoarthritis, which may go on to require a knee replacement. What is this? Your risk of developing osteoarthritis increases when a meniscus tear occurs.
Results. A total of 36,974 patients were included in AM groups and non-AM group after 1:1 matching. TKR occurred in 9.62% and 7.64% in AM and non-AM groups with the average duration after meniscectomy of 5.88 ± 2.77 and 5.50 ± 2.94 years, respectively.
Arthroscopic knee surgery is a minimally invasive technique of making repairs to the knee ligament or meniscus. The highly advanced procedure has an over 90 percent success rate.
The actual surgery time is usually about 30 minutes. If extensive work is needed, the procedure may last up to 45 minutes. Most people "go to sleep completely" during surgery with a general anesthetic. Some have surgery with a spinal anesthetic.
Arthroscopy is a procedure to check the joint for pain or damage. It further leads to a diagnosis which would be ideal to treat the joint and is, in most cases, a permanent fix for the patient.
Studies have found that knee arthroscopy usually does not relieve pain, and any pain relief a patient does get is short-lived.
Arthroscopy is a very safe procedure and complications are uncommon. Problems may include: Tissue or nerve damage. The placement and movement of the instruments within the joint can damage the joint's structures.
Your orthopaedic surgeon or physical therapist may recommend that you exercise for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. They may suggest some of the exercises shown below. They may also advise you to engage in a walking program.
It may take as long as 6 months before your knee is strong enough for hard physical work or certain sports. You will need to build your strength and the motion of your joint with rehabilitation (rehab) exercises. In time, your knee will likely be stronger and more stable than it was before the surgery.
For a general timeframe, many runners can begin a (safe) return to running program around 8-12 weeks post-op. This timeline provides enough time to significantly reduce swelling, improve strength at the hip and quadriceps muscles, and implement a gradual progression/training plan to resume proper walking mechanics.
While this surgery is less invasive than other surgeries and often involves a quick recovery period, it doesn't always improve knee pain. Knee pain, osteoarthritis, re-injury, inadequate rehabilitation, and spontaneous osteonecrosis are potential long-term problems after meniscus surgery.
Patients who can walk on level ground without much difficulty, or who only have pain when going up and down stairs, are not good candidates for knee replacement surgery.
In general, it's better to fix the meniscus than to remove it. Some types of tears can't be fixed. For example, radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. But most horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed.
If your meniscal cartilages are torn or missing, then you've lost your shock absorbers, and you're simply no longer suited to running. If your articular cartilage is wearing thin or if it's worn away down to bare bone, and if you then run, you're simply going to cause more damage.
Excessive pain in the knee following arthroscopic surgery is usually due to overactivity or spending too much time on your feet before the thigh muscles have been adequately strengthened. Excessive swelling can also cause pain in the knee. It is normal for the knee to be sore and swollen following arthroscopy.
In some cases, spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (also known as avascular necrosis) can develop after a knee arthroscopy. It is a painful condition in which blood supply to the joint becomes restricted, causing bone tissue death, which damages the structure of your knee and leads to debilitating arthritis.
Knee arthroscopy is widely acknowledged to be a safe procedure [4, 6]. Still, there are also known serious complications such as joint infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and there are even deaths reported [5, 7, 8].
Dressings: Keep dressings clean and dry for 3 days after surgery. You may then remove the dressing, apply waterproof bandages, and shower. After showering, replace the waterproof bandages with dry ones. No soaking or scrubbing, no bath, no swimming, no hot tubs, etc.
Typical costs
For patients with private health insurance who had a Knee arthroscopy in a private setting across all of Australia, 65% had an out-of-pocket cost. Of those: Patients typically paid: $400, Medicare paid: $780, Insurer typically paid: $840. Typical specialists' fees: $2,100.
One surgical option for treating an arthritic joint is joint replacement surgery. But another type of joint surgery – arthroscopy – is considered ineffective in providing long-term relief from arthritis, says orthopedic surgeon Michael Raab, MD.
While recovering the first few days after your procedure, you should: Stay off of your feet: Avoid putting weight on your knee for a few days. You may need crutches or a walker to help you get around. Elevate your knee: To reduce swelling and relieve pain, rest with your leg elevated.
Patients that have knee pain or instability without significant arthritis may be a candidate for a knee arthroscopy. Current indications for knee arthroscopy include: Meniscus tears. ACL tears.