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**Aussie Skier** · 10-19-2004, 11:59 AM

from: http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp05005.htm

The most commonly performed surgical procedures on the knee include a meniscectomy (removal of the meniscus), meniscal repair, and ligament reconstruction. The traditional method of surgery for a torn meniscus (cartilage) involves admission to a hospital for several days, one or more surgical incisions that may average several inches, several weeks on crutches, and up to several months to completely rehabilitate the knee. This is called an arthrotomy in medical terms.

The arthrotomy method of doing surgery has been gradually replaced by a procedure known as arthroscopy. This is still a surgical procedure, but with several differences. Arthroscopy involves inserting a fiberoptic telescope that is about the size of a pencil into the joint through an incision that is approximately 1/8 inch long. Fluid is then inserted into the joint to distend the joint and to allow for the visualization of the structures within that joint. Then, using miniature instruments which may be as small as 1/10 of an inch, the structures are examined and the surgery is performed.

This is usually done as an outpatient. On the average, most patients are able to walk without crutches within 48 hours. An active rehabilitation program is then initiated in an effort to rebuild the muscle strength in the muscles around the knee, thus relieving the stress on the knee. In most patients, an exercise program is started by the seventh post-operative day on Nautilus type equipment. Patients are usually on some type of activity restriction for approximately 6 weeks after surgery, or until rehabilitation has been successfully completed. Obviously these general guidelines must be individualized and may change during the recovery phase. Arthroscopy is much less traumatic to the muscles, ligaments and the tissues than the traditional method of opening the knee.

10-19-2004, 11:59 AM	#20
Aussie Skier So long, Eddie! miss you. Posts: 1,910	from: http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp05005.htm The most commonly performed surgical procedures on the knee include a meniscectomy (removal of the meniscus), meniscal repair, and ligament reconstruction. The traditional method of surgery for a torn meniscus (cartilage) involves admission to a hospital for several days, one or more surgical incisions that may average several inches, several weeks on crutches, and up to several months to completely rehabilitate the knee. This is called an arthrotomy in medical terms. The arthrotomy method of doing surgery has been gradually replaced by a procedure known as arthroscopy. This is still a surgical procedure, but with several differences. Arthroscopy involves inserting a fiberoptic telescope that is about the size of a pencil into the joint through an incision that is approximately 1/8 inch long. Fluid is then inserted into the joint to distend the joint and to allow for the visualization of the structures within that joint. Then, using miniature instruments which may be as small as 1/10 of an inch, the structures are examined and the surgery is performed. This is usually done as an outpatient. On the average, most patients are able to walk without crutches within 48 hours. An active rehabilitation program is then initiated in an effort to rebuild the muscle strength in the muscles around the knee, thus relieving the stress on the knee. In most patients, an exercise program is started by the seventh post-operative day on Nautilus type equipment. Patients are usually on some type of activity restriction for approximately 6 weeks after surgery, or until rehabilitation has been successfully completed. Obviously these general guidelines must be individualized and may change during the recovery phase. Arthroscopy is much less traumatic to the muscles, ligaments and the tissues than the traditional method of opening the knee.