Arthroscopic Surgery cost in India

Know More About Procedure & Surgery

What is Arthroscopic?

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure doctors use to look at, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint. Doctor may recommend it if you have inflmmation in a joint, have injured a joint, or have damaged a joint over time. You can have arthroscopy on any joint. Most often, it’s done on the Knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, or wrist.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing joint injuries and disease begins with a thorough medical history, physical examination, and usually X-rays. Additional tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) also scan may be needed. Through the arthroscope, a final diagnosis is made, which may be more accurate than through "open" surgery or from X-ray studies. Disease and injuries can damage bones, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Some of the most frequent conditions found during arthroscopic examinations of joints are:

Inflammation

For example, synovitis is an inflammation of the lining in the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or ankle.

Acute or Chronic Injury

• Shoulder: Rotator cuff tendon tears, impingement syndrome, and recurrent dislocations
• Knee: Meniscal (cartilage) tears, chondromalacia (wearing or injury of cartilage cushion), and anterior cruciate ligament tears with instability
• Wrist: Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Loose bodies of bone and/or cartilage: for example, knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, or wrist

Some problems associated with arthritis also can be treated. Several procedures may combine arthroscopic and standard surgery.

• Rotator cuff surgery
• Repair or resection of torn cartilage (meniscus) from knee or shoulder
• Reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament in knee
• Removal of inflamed lining (synovium) in knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle
• Release of carpal tunnel
• Repair of torn ligaments
• Removal of loose bone or cartilage in knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, wrist.

Although the inside of nearly all joints can be viewed with an arthroscope, six joints are most frequently examined with this instrument. These include the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, and wrist.

Preparation

Exact preparations depend on which of your joints the surgeon is examining or repairing. In general, you should:

• Avoid certain medications. Your doctor may want you to avoid taking medications or dietary supplements that can increase your risk of bleeding.
• Fast beforehand. Depending on the type of anesthesia you'll have, your doctor may want you to avoid eating solid foods eight hours before your procedure.
• Arrange for a ride. You won't be allowed to drive yourself home after the procedure, so make sure someone will be available to pick you up.
• Choose loose clothing. Wear loose, comfortable clothing — baggy gym shorts, for example, if you're having knee arthroscopy — so you can dress easily after the procedure.

During Procedure

Your doctor will perform arthroscopic surgery in a hospital or outpatient operating room. That means you can go home the same day. The type of anesthesia you’ll receive depends on the joint and what your surgeon suspects is the problem. It may be genral anesthesia (you’ll be asleep during surgery), or your doctor will give it to you through your spine. They might also numb the area they are doing the surgery on. Surgeon will insert special pencil-thin instruments through a small cut (incision) the size of a buttonhole. They’ll use a tool called an arthroscope that has a camera lens and a light. It allows them to see inside the joint. The camera projects an image of the joint onto a screen. The surgeon will fill the joint with sterile fluid to widen it so it’s easier to see. They’ll look inside the joint, diagnose the problem, and decide what type of surgery you need, if any. If you do need surgery, your surgeon will insert special tools through ther small incisions called portals. They’ll use them to cut, shave, grasp, and anchor stitchesinto bone. 

Recovery

You may have some pain in the joint after surgery. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication. They might also prescribe aspirin or other medication to prevent blood clots. You may need crutches, a splint, or a sling for support as you recover. Arthroscopic surgery usually results in less joint pain and stiffness than open surgery. Recovery also generally takes less time. You’ll have small puncture wounds where the arthroscopic tools went into your body. The day after surgery, you may be able to remove the surgical bandages and replace them with small strips to cover the incisions. Your doctor will remove non-dissolvable stitches after a week or 2. While your wounds heal, you’ll have to keep the site as dry as possible. This means covering them with a plastic bag when you shower.

Your doctor will tell you what activities to avoid when you go home. You can often go back to work or school within a few days of surgery. Full joint recovery typically takes several weeks. It may take several months to be back to normal. Rehabilitation or specific exercises can help speed your recovery.

When to Call the Doctor

Complications are rare. If you do have complications, they can include infection, blood clots, damage to the blood vessels or nerves, and excessive bleeding or swelling. Instruments can also break during surgery.

if you have any of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Pain that gets worse
• Severe swelling
• Numbness or tingling
• Discolored or smelly fluid seeping from wound

Contact your doctor right away.

Advantages

Although arthroscopic surgery has received a lot of public attention because it is used to treat well-known athletes, it is an extremely valuable tool for all orthopaedic patients and is generally easier on the patient than "open" surgery. Most patients have their arthroscopic surgery as outpatients and are home several hours after the surgery.

Risks

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.
• Infection. Any type of invasive surgery carries a risk of infection.
• Blood clots. Rarely, procedures that last longer than an hour can increase the risk of blood clots developing in your legs or lungs.