Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the joints. It is performed with the help of a special instrument called an arthroscope. It comes with an attached video camera and a light. What is observed by the camera is recorded and can be viewed by the surgeon on a television monitor.

Arthroscopic knee surgery is an alternative to total knee replacement and other forms of knee replacement surgery. During the knee arthroscopic surgery, small incisions are made to insert an arthroscope and other surgical tools to correct a defect in or around the knee joint. Total knee replacement, on the other hand, refers to complete removal and replacement of the diseased joint with a prosthetic implant.

When is knee arthroscopy required?

Knee arthroscopy is conducted for the diagnosis and treatment of the following conditions:

• Inflammation of the knee
• Injuries such as :
  
  
  • Fractures
  • Ligament tear
  • Tendon damage
  • Torn meniscus
  • Misalignment of kneecap
  • Bakers cyst
  • Meniscus tear
  • Loose fragments of bone or cartilage

Meniscectomy is a type of meniscus tear treatment in which a part of the meniscus is removed. This is done when an individual suffers from a type of a knee injury called meniscus tear. The surgical decision to remove all of or a part of the meniscus is taken based on the overall health, age, activity level, and the nature of injury of the patient.

This meniscus treatment is performed by a team of orthopaedic surgeons. The doctor is likely to advise this surgery if they think that it is the best available treatment for you, depending on the exact location of the tear, its pattern, and size.

There are different types of a meniscus tear. A small meniscus tear usually requires no surgery and heals on its own through home treatment. A moderate to larger tear in the red zone of the meniscus is best treated with the help of a meniscectomy surgery. A tear in the white zone of the meniscus, on the other hand, is not treated with the help of meniscectomy surgery because there are fewer chances of healing.

The meniscus is a rubbery ligament between the shinbone and the thighbone. Meniscus tear takes place when there is a solid contorting movement of the knee, especially when the knee is bent while the foot is firmly placed on the ground. It is one of the most common knee injuries among sportsperson who play football, cricket, and tennis, and people who perform high-impact activities.

 A few people may suffer from meniscus tear due to ligament of knee degeneration that takes place with age due to several factors.

 Pain, swelling and tightness may increase over several days if you have a meniscus tear. You may not be able to straighten your knee, and it may lock in position. It may be problematic for you to put weight on your leg or even walk normally like before.

 Minor meniscus tears can heal by itself if there is a good blood supply to the area. However, some tears require arthroscopic surgery to fix the tear. It is important to rest and let the ligament heal. Ice packs and physical therapy helps with the recovery of a meniscus tear.

Different Approaches to Meniscus Repair Surgery

 Only 10 percent of meniscus tears can heal by itself if there is an appropriate blood supply.

Most of the surgeries are arthroscopic surgeries in which a special device is used to view inside the knee and see the torn meniscus. There are different procedures, however, that can be conducted to repair or fix the meniscus and these include the following:

• Meniscectomy: It can be partial meniscectomy or complete, that is, the torn meniscus can be partially removed or completely. It can be done as an open surgery or arthroscopic surgery.
• Meniscal Repair: It can be performed open or arthroscopically and the preservation of the meniscus involved three aspects:
  • Repair of the torn meniscus
  • Non-surgical treatment of asymptomatic meniscal pathologies
  • Partial meniscectomy and resection

• Meniscal Regeneration: Meniscal transplantation (MAT) can be performed to restore the meniscus. In this case, a graft is usually taken from the hamstring muscle to reproduce the meniscus.

A shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure conducted to inspect, diagnose, and rectify the problems involving the shoulder joint. During a shoulder arthroscopy, a small device attached to a camera is inserted into the shoulder to diagnose the reason for pain in the shoulder, among other problems.

Miniature surgical instruments are also inserted into the shoulder to rectify the identified problem. Such a surgery is known as arthroscopic shoulder surgery. When shoulder replacement is conducted with the help of arthroscopy, the procedure is known as arthroscopic shoulder replacement.

At each stage of the arthroscopic shoulder surgery, the surgeon is guided by an image displayed on the television screen. This is a minimally invasive procedure that ensures a quick recovery.

The shoulder has three bones, namely:

• the clavicle (the collarbone),
• scapula (the shoulder blade),
• and humerus (the upper arm bone). 

 A rotator cuff tear, articular cartilage, labrum and surrounding soft tissues can be the cause of pain in the shoulder joint. These areas can get damaged or distorted as a result of some accident. The actual cause of pain can be diagnosed with the help of a shoulder arthroscopy. Sometimes, age-related wear and tear can is also responsible for shoulder joint-related pain and problems.

Symptoms of a shoulder injury include excessive pain in the shoulder joint and stiffness in the shoulder joint that may hinder easy movement of the arm around the shoulder joint. The patient may experience trouble while sleeping with the affected shoulder on one side. Slight swelling can also be observed physically in the joint region. 

 A physician may recommend a shoulder arthroscopy if your shoulder does not respond well to other alternative treatments such as exercising and physiotherapy. Common rotator cuff surgery can be used to conduct rotator cuff repair, removal or repair of the labrum, repair of ligaments and recurrent shoulder dislocation, and bone spur removal. Some of the less common procedures may include fracture repair, cyst excision, and nerve release.

Shoulder replacement is emerging as one of the most successful ways of curing degenerated shoulder joint, which may be due to prolonged joint disease, or any accidental damage. The procedure has been implemented by millions of people till date, and approximately 53000 candidates annually in the United States of America. The present record is however the witness of 5.6 times increase in shoulder replacement surgeries performed in the past two decades and the numbers are increasing every passing day.

The shoulder joint may get distorted due to several reasons. Often due to degenerative diseases or auto-immune disorders like arthritis, the bone disintegrates gradually which causes increased friction and thus, enhanced pain. Pain in the shoulder joint is extremely difficult to cope up with, especially in the progressed stages. It not only interferes with the daily activities but also restricts movement sometimes completely. Hence, in such cases where conventional methods seem to yield fruitful results, shoulder replacement surgery is highly recommended. In this procedure, the candidate’s glenohumeral joint or the shoulder joint is surgically removed and replaced with artificial joint or prosthetics. These prosthetics are not prone to degeneration and has years of longevity in the record. Hence, it not only helps in getting rid of the pain but also ensures comfortable movement of the arms without any discomfort in the long run.