The quality of a patient’s life can be adversely affected and in a major way, due to a knee injury, especially if it’s severe. When it comes to treatments, it’s very important to find the one which is right and safeguards your ability to walk.
There are a number of options when it comes to treating a knee injury, for example; there are some cases that can be 
treated with the help of less or non invasive arthroscopic procedures while most others require a full knee replacement surgery after an injury. Of course, your orthopedic surgeon will choose the best option to use after considering all the different factors of your particular case.
It largely depends on the patient’s special case, type of injury and other factors that help the surgeon decide which option to choose, although the patient can too, decide for himself/herself whether or not this surgery will prove beneficial.
What Are The Benefits of Arthroscopy?
If circumstances permit; patients opt for arthroscopy more than for total knee replacement or any other type of surgery because this procedure is far less invasive. The procedure consists of using far smaller incisions, which generally means a faster healing rate and an easier recovery period as compared to its counterparts.
When Is Arthroscopy Surgery Generally Used?
Arthroscopy is sometimes used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, although a couple of recent studies are showing that the benefits of arthroscopy over non-surgical treatments aren’t as clear.
The surgical procedure is often used to treat and repair damage done on a smaller scale, such as a torn meniscus, damaged cartilage, or torn ligaments. ACL repairs are also carried out with the help of arthroscopic surgery, as well as used to remove bone or cartilage fragments or cysts after a minor injury.
When Is Arthroscopy Surgery Not Recommended?
When it comes to treating serious levels of disease or joint damage, this particular procedure might not be enough to treat it completely. In the most severe cases of osteoarthritis too, only total knee replacement surgery is recommended by orthopedic surgeons.
Partial knee replacement on the other hand, is used to treat only the most damaged surfaces of the knee and in many cases, replacement procedures are used by the orthopedic surgeon as a last resort, after other treatments haven’t proved to be as beneficial at treating chronic knee pain or other such symptoms.
One fact about replacement surgery and which is the most important is that the success rate with this procedure is very high when it comes to improvement with regard to mobility and pain.
What Should Be Considered Before Opting For Arthroscopy Surgery?
Orthopedic surgeons in Phoenix suggest that patients should try other non-surgical treatments as well before deciding to undergo arthroscopy surgery. When it comes to less serious injuries, arthroscopy is the better option.
Exercise and Physical Therapy
If you want to strengthen the muscles that give support to your knee, then no other non-surgical option is better than exercise and physical therapy. Have a consultation with a physical therapist that can help design a physical therapy or exercise program which you can benefit from, or come up with special braces, canes, or splints designed to give your knee the additional support it needs.
Dr. Adam Farber at Phoenix Shoulder and Knee is a top arthroscopic knee specialist in Phoenix and Scottsdale. If you or a loved one is experiencing knee pain and would like relief, contact the Phoenix orthopedic practice today at (480) 219-3342.
