7 Reasons You May Need Knee Arthroscopy

Your knee is acting up — again. 

You’ve tried all the nonsurgical treatments your doctor recommended, but the pain hasn’t gone away. The next step is a surgical exploration of your knee to diagnose and repair the problem to reduce your pain and regain normal use of your knee.

The best way to accomplish this is through knee arthroscopy, also called arthroscopic surgery. During this minimally invasive surgery, board-certified Steven E. Nolan, MD, inserts a tiny, fiber-optic scope, called an arthroscope, through a small incision in the knee. He can then view the knee's interior on a screen, determine the problem, and correct the issue using small instruments within the arthroscope.

The advantage of knee arthroscopy is that the smaller incisions reduce pain, scarring, and recovery time compared to standard surgery. Dr. Nolan and his team are experts in this procedure — here are seven common reasons you may need knee arthroscopy.

1. Torn anterior or posterior cruciate ligaments

The ACL and PCL are the two major ligaments in the knee that work together to provide stability for the knee. If they are partially or completely torn, arthroscopic surgery may be the best treatment to repair the ligaments.

2. Torn meniscus

Your meniscus is cartilage in the knee that absorbs the shock and provides a cushion between your femur (thigh bone) and your tibia (shin bone). If this cartilage tears, it can be a painful injury. Depending on your case, Dr. Nolan may need to repair the meniscus with knee arthroscopy. 

3. Misaligned patella (kneecap)

If your patella (kneecap) becomes misaligned, it doesn’t move in the appropriate direction with your knee — it may move sideways when you’re walking forward, for instance. Knee arthroscopy can fix this condition so your kneecap moves appropriately.

4. Pieces of torn, loose cartilage

Small pieces of loose cartilage that have broken off or torn away from their usual location can cause significant pain in your knee. The best solution in such cases is for Dr. Nolan to remove the piece of cartilage from your knee with arthroscopic surgery.

5. Removal of a Baker cyst

A Baker cyst is a small lump of fluid that builds up in the back of your knee. It usually forms after something damages your knee or causes swelling. Depending on the cyst, you may not need treatment, but if it grows too large or begins to cause more swelling, you may need surgery to remove it.

6. Fractures in the knee bones

If any of the four bones in the knee (kneecap, upper tibia or fibula, lower femur) have a fracture due to trauma, you may need knee arthroscopy to repair the damaged bone so it can begin healing properly.

7. Swollen synovium

Synovium is the soft tissue that lines the inside of your knee joint. This tissue can become swollen, irritated, and damaged. This is a common condition with inflammatory joint diseases; Dr. Nolan may be able to repair or remove part of the synovium with knee arthroscopy,

If nonsurgical treatments haven’t helped your knee and you suspect one of these reasons may be the cause, Dr. Nolan and our team are here to help. Call our Sugarland, Texas, office to schedule a consultation, or use our online booking tool to choose a convenient time. Surgery may be just the thing you need to return to normal.