HOME / TREATMENTS / KNEE RECONSTRUCTION & ARTHROSCOPY
ARTHROSCOPY, MENISCAL SURGERY AND LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION
Arthroscopy (keyhole joint surgery) is used to examine and treat the inside of a joint without using a large, open incision. This allows a quick recovery with a low risk of wound problems. Problems that can be treated with knee arthroscopy include tears of the meniscus, ligaments and cartilage damage. Meniscal tears are common but don’t always require surgery. Some tears can be repaired but most tears will be trimmed or debrided (“tidied up”).
LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION
Ligament reconstruction is most commonly performed for tears of the anterior cruciate ligament but other ligaments in or around the knee may need similar treatment. The torn ligament is replaced with a tendon graft (a piece of tendon taken from elsewhere in the body) and eventually heals to function as the new ligament. Ligament tears do not always require surgery but when undertaken, stability is usually restored to the knee.
CLICK IMAGES FOR DETAILS
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans showing a normal, intact ACL on the left (outlined in red) and a ruptured ACL on the right (outlined in red).
MENISCAL SURGERY
Meniscal tears are common but don’t always require surgery. Some tears can be repaired but most tears will be trimmed or debrided (“tidied up”).
CLICK IMAGES FOR DETAILS
Meniscectomy: Left to right: 1.Normal meniscus. Note the smooth edge. 2. Irreparable meniscal tear. 3. The tear has been trimmed off, leaving a stable meniscal rim
Meniscal Repair: Left to right: 1.Photograph of a repairable meniscal tear (outlined in red). 2. Sutures are inserted into the meniscus after closing the tear. 3. Repaired meniscus with closed tear outlined in red.