Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure Dr. Hersch uses to diagnose and treat joint problems, including inflammation, injury, and degeneration.
The procedure gets its name from the equipment used – the arthroscope – which is a pencil-sized tube that can be inserted through a small incision. The arthroscope contains a fiber-optic light and video camera that sends images to a monitor where Dr. Hersch can see magnified views of the joint and surrounding tissue. This allows him to determine the cause of your problems as well as the extent of the damage.
If surgery is necessary, Dr. Hersch can perform the surgery at the same time by making a few additional small incisions through which he can pass special surgical tools.
Arthroscopic surgery is popular because it usually results in less pain and stiffness than open surgery, and because recovery generally takes less time.
Dr. Hersch performs arthroscopic surgery to repair torn soft tissues, reconstruct ligaments, repair tendons, or remove inflamed or damaged tissues. Conditions that do well with arthroscopic surgery include:
The small incisions and narrow instruments used during arthroscopy cause significantly less trauma compared to conventional open surgery. As a result, you gain benefits such as:
• Less postoperative pain
• Reduced bleeding
• Quicker recovery
• Minimal scarring
•Earlier return to your usual activities
Arthroscopy is commonly performed as an outpatient procedure. Your rehabilitation and recovery time depend on the type of procedure.
