Knee Arthroscopy

Knee Arthroscopy and Other Minimally Invasive Treatments for Patients in Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, and the Surrounding VA Areas

Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that is performed by the fellowship-trained surgeons at Tidewater Orthopaedics for patients from Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg, Virginia. The term “arthroscopy,” which is derived from the Greek words “arthro” (joint) and “skopein” (look), literally means “look inside a joint.” The procedure can be used on an outpatient basis to diagnose and treat a variety of knee conditions and injuries.

When performing a knee arthroscopy, a surgeon will make a few tiny incisions to insert special, pencil-sized surgical instruments. These instruments include a light source and miniature camera that the surgeon can use to illuminate, magnify, and view the internal structures of the joint on an external monitor. Some common reasons that the surgeons at Tidewater Orthopaedics in Hampton Roads might recommend knee arthroscopy include:

  • To diagnose persistent knee pain that does not respond to conservative therapy
  • To repair a damaged meniscus (cartilage inside the knee joint)
  • To reconstruct a torn ligament
  • To clean the knee joint of loose bodies, such as bone fragments or bits of cartilage
  • To remove an inflamed knee joint lining (synovium)
  • To address a simple fracture in or near the knee joint

Following knee arthroscopy, it is important for a patient to exercise regularly to regain mobility and strengthen the muscles tasked with supporting the knee. In most cases, a formal physical therapy program can improve a patient’s final outcome. The in-house team of physical therapists at Tidewater Orthopaedics works closely with our surgeons to coordinate patient care and develop highly individualized treatment plans to ensure the best possible results.

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