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Friday, August 21, 2009

Arthroscopy of the Knee

By Dr. Richard Edelson

Arthro is joint in Latin. Scopy is view. Arthroscopy is literally to view a joint. The use of arthroscopy allows an orthopedic surgeon to look inside a joint and see what needs to be done. Arthroscopy is very useful in the diagnosis and treatment of problems with the knees.

Using high resolution cameras and state of the art arthroscopes, this technique is extremely effective in diagnosing and treating knee disorders.

The Composition of the Knee

The knee is made up of three bones: The patella, the tibia, and the femur. The juncture of these bones is cushioned by articular cartilage, which allows them to move easily.

Synovial membrane is a thin, smooth membrane that coats the interior surfaces of the knee. In a healthy knee, the synovial membrane produces a lubricant that allows the knee to function comfortably and smoothly.

The three bones that make up the largest joint in the body are the shin bone (tibia), thigh bone (femur) and knee cap (patella). The entire structure is held together by ligaments that run between the tibia and femur. The patella moves along a groove in the end of the femur. The strong muscle of the thigh provides support and stability.

Click here for more on arthroscopic surgery .

Knee Difficulties

When everything is functioning properly, the parts of the knee work together smoothly. However, the knee gets a lot of use, and everyday wear and tear can cause problems. Sports, work, injury, weakened tissues, arthritis, and aging all take a toll on the knee. Over the course of time, these things can cause a lot of pain and reduce the ability of the knee to do its job.

With arthroscopy, a number of conditions can be diagnosed and treated:

Chondromalacia, which is the softening of articular cartilage and/or damage to joint surfaces.

Crystalline arthropathy: Gouty arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflamed synovial membranes.

Patellar instability and misalignment.

These problems can be located using arthroscopy.

Damage to meniscal cartilage can be visualized.

Loose and/or fragmented bone and cartilage can be located.

Posterior and anterior damaged cruciate ligaments can be diagnosed.

Arthroscopy is extremely useful to the orthopedic surgeon in locating and assessing all of these knee problems. The use of the modern technology helps todays orthopedic surgeon deliver efficient and effective treatment. - 17274

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