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Arthroscopic Knee Procedures
The arthroscope
is a small, fiber optic camera inserted into the joint to
visualize and repair injuries. The surgeon will create two
or three small (about ½ inch) incisions at the joint line of
the knee to insert the arthroscope and arthroscopic tools.
The camera
encloses an extraordinarily bright light source to assist in
visualizing the joint structures. The camera and
arthroscopic instruments are roughly 5 millimeters (½ inch)
in diameter. These small instruments are used to mend the
injured parts.
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Torn
Cartilage/Meniscus surgery
Meniscectomy is the certified name of the surgery
that comprises the removal of a portion of the meniscus
cartilage from the knee joint. The meniscus is a
shock-absorbing wedge of cartilage that rests between
the bone ends to deliver cushioning and support. Lesser
meniscus tears can typically be trimmed to relieve the
symptoms of a torn meniscus.
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Meniscus
Repair
A meniscus repair is a surgical procedure completed
to repair the damaged meniscus. The meniscus repair can
rebuild the normal anatomy of the knee, and has an
improved long-term prognosis when successful. However,
the meniscus repair is a much more significant surgery.
The recovery is lengthier, and, because of inadequate
blood supply to the meniscus, repair of the meniscus is
not always achievable.
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ACL
Reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of
four main knee ligaments. The ACL is crucial to knee
stability, and people who hurt their ACL often complain
of their knee giving out from beneath them. Therefore,
many patients who sustain an ACL tear choose to have
surgical treatment of this injury. A majority of the ACL
surgery is executed arthroscopically.
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Plica
Excision
A plica is a remainder of tissue leftover from fetal
development. In early development, your knee was divided
into separate sections. The dividers of the compartments
are slowly lost over time, but some remnant remains.
When this remainder of tissue is more prominent, it is
called a plica. When the plica is irritated, it is named
plica syndrome. A plica resection is achieved to
eliminate this irritated tissue.
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Lateral
Release
The kneecap moves up and down the end of the femur
in a groove of cartilage. The kneecap can be pulled to
the outskirts of this groove, or might even dislocate
from the groove, creating pain with bending of the knee
joint. A lateral release is implemented to loosen the
ligaments that pull the kneecap toward the outside of
the groove.
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Microfracture
Microfracture is a treatment used to stimulate the body
to grow fresh cartilage in an area of injured cartilage.
In a microfracture procedure, the strong, outer layer of
bone is pierced, to expose the inner layers of bone
where marrow cells exist. These cells can then access
the injured area and replace the gap of cartilage.
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Autologous
Chondrocyte Implantation
Cartilage transfer involves relocating cartilage
from healthy parts of the joint to injured areas. Small
plugs of cartilage are taken out, with a portion of
underlying bone, and transferred to the area of injury.
The plugs are taken from regions of the joint where the
cartilage surface is not required.
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