Is It a Sprain or a Fracture? How to Tell the Difference
A joint injury is painful. How do you know if you’ve broken a bone or have a bad sprain? Although sprains and fractures share several symptoms, there are some differences.
Is Arthroscopic Surgery Right for Your Knee Pain?
Your knee hurts. You’re not sure why. Was it because you pivoted too quickly on the tennis court, or is it arthritis? If you have unresolved knee pain that doesn’t get better in a few weeks, it’s time to see an orthopedic specialist.
At Coastal Empire Orthopedics, our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Shults, evaluates your knee pain and determines the best course of treatment, from conservative nonsurgical and regenerative medicine to arthroscopy to partial or full knee replacement.
What is arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used for both diagnosing and treating knee pain. Perhaps Dr. Shults wants to confirm a possible diagnosis. Prior to arthroscopy, Dr. Shults takes X-rays and refers you for an MRI. If the MRI isn’t totally definitive, Dr. Shults may need to perform arthroscopy on your knee to determine exactly what’s causing your pain. , but they can also perform needed repairs that relieve your discomfort.
You’ll have anesthesia during arthroscopy. Dr. Shults makes 1-3 very small incisions and inserts a small tube with a powerful magnifying camera on the end of it. The camera relays images to a video monitor. Now Dr. Shults can see your injury very well. Using small instruments, our expert surgeon makes any needed repairs.
What knee conditions can arthroscopy help?
Following are common conditions causing knee pain for which arthroscopy is an appropriate treatment.
Meniscus tears
Your knee pain may result from a torn meniscus. The meniscus is a C-shaped band of tissue that sits between your thigh bone and your shin bone, cushioning the space. Torn meniscus tissue can become loose with jagged ends.
The tear may make your knee less stable. The injury may be compressing a nerve, causing your pain. It also creates painful inflammation. Using arthroscopy, Dr. Shults repairs the tear.
Ligament and tendon injuries
You have four knee ligaments: two in the center of the knee and one on each side of your knee. They stabilize your knee and keep the joint in the proper position. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are significant and take months to heal. Using arthroscopy versus open surgery helps limit blood loss, lessen damage to surrounding tissue, and hasten healing.
You have a quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon in your knee; both help your knee bend and move. You could have a tendon tear. Dr. Shults repairs the tendon using arthroscopy.
Removing loose cartilage or bone from a fracture
A fracture can create small bone fragments and loose cartilage. Dr. Shults can remove these during arthroscopy.
Inflammation in the knee
The lining in your knee may be severely inflamed, or you may have bursitis, inflammation of a small sac known as a bursa in the knee joint. Dr. Shults can remove the lining or the inflamed bursa.
Arthroscopy vs. partial or full knee replacement
Dr. Shults lets you know if minimally invasive arthroscopy can help relieve your knee pain or whether you need a partial or full knee replacement. If you have severe osteoarthritis and conservative treatments haven’t worked, you likely need a knee replacement.
Call Coastal Empire Orthopedics in Savannah, Georgia, today, or book an appointment online if you have a knee injury.
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