4 Benefits of Arthroscopy

Do you think you might need surgery to repair a damaged joint? Whether your joint damage is from years of playing a sport or an injury from a fall, you want to recover safely as soon as possible.

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Hood at Delta Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine performs arthroscopic surgery frequently on damaged joints. 

What is arthroscopic surgery? 

Arthroscopic surgery is minimally invasive surgery. Your doctor makes only small incisions in your skin and uses likewise small, thin instruments with a light and a tiny camera to examine your damaged joint. 

Dr. Hood can diagnose the problem this way and then proceed with joint repair at the same time. He uses arthroscopic surgery to diagnose and treat many types of joint problems, such as fractures, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, meniscus injuries, and tendonitis. 

Dr. Hood can perform arthroscopy on any joint, but the most common operations involve the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, and wrist. Note these four benefits of arthroscopic surgery. 

Less pain and bleeding

Because Dr. Hood uses thin, small tools to perform arthroscopic surgery, your incisions are smaller than with traditional open surgery. With smaller wounds, you have less pain than with larger cuts to your skin.  

With smaller wounds, you have less bleeding with arthroscopic surgery than with open surgery. Less bleeding helps you heal faster. 

Quicker recovery 

Because Dr. Hood is making tiny cuts, you have less surrounding soft tissue damage than you would have during an open surgery. You’re likely able to return to work in just a few days and return to a sport faster than you would with traditional surgery. 

You can also expect to remove your bandages one or two days after your operation and use sterile adhesive strips on the incisions. Open wounds need more care and frequently require additional trips to the doctor during healing. 

Better post-op function 

Smaller wounds, less tissue damage, less bleeding, and a quicker recovery add up to better postoperative function in your joint: less stiffness, good range of motion, and less scar tissue.  

Larger incisions made during open surgery can result in scar tissue, which hinders movement and can cause pain. Arthroscopic surgery likely allows you to return to playing a game you love with little discernible difference in your level of play. 

The development of mini cameras and fiber-optic technology in the early 1970s gave rise to the development of arthroscopic surgery. Before that time, professional athletes who needed major joint repairs were forced to retire from the game. 

Now, top-level athletes and neighborhood weekend warriors as well as high school and college students benefit from this technology and are able to return to play. 

Reduced risk for infection

Surgery always involves risk; the unexpected can occur. However, surgical risks are greatly reduced for all of the reasons listed above when doctors use arthroscopic surgery. Less joint exposure during surgery means less risk of infection. 

Call Delta Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in West Memphis, Arkansas, or Collierville, Tennessee, or book an appointment online for all of your orthopedic needs. We help get you moving again.