Knee Arthroscopy

Knee injuries and conditions come in all types and degrees of severity. While some conditions require surgeons to replace part or all of the knee joint, other conditions may only require that the ligaments, cartilage and tendons within and around the knee joint be treated or repaired.

Knee Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, usually performed on an outpatient basis. Your surgeon uses miniature cameras and instruments to get a better view of the inner workings of your knee. This increases surgical precision and typically minimizes the number and size of surgical incisions.  The Arthroscope is also often used to assist the surgeon’s visualization in other more complex surgeries; in some cases, additional incisions are needed.

Shoulder Arthoscopy

A shoulder surgery is commonly used to repair a damaged shoulder joint. During the surgery, a tiny camera known as the “arthroscope” is inserted into the shoulder. This is done after small incisions are made, keeping the surgical site intact. Once the camera is inserted, there are other surgical instruments used to access the area that needs to be repaired.

Arthroscopy is commonly used for treatment of conditions of the shoulder including subacromial impingement, acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), chronic tendonitis, removal of loose bodies and partial tears of the long biceps tendon, SLAP lesions and shoulder instability.

Shoulder arthroscopy is most commonly performed using regional nerve blocks, which numb your shoulder and arm. This numbing medicine is injected in the base of your neck or high on your shoulder. This is where the nerves that control feeling in your shoulder and arm are located. In addition to its use as an anesthetic during surgery, a nerve block will help control pain for a few hours after the surgery is completed. Many surgeons combine nerve blocks with sedation or a light general anesthetic because patients can become uncomfortable staying in one position for the length of time needed to complete the surgery.