Knee arthroscopy

• Meniscus injuries

Meniscus surgeries are common, particularly among athletes, due to sudden injuries. Additionally, older individuals commonly experience meniscus injuries, as the cartilage weakens over time and becomes more prone to tearing. Symptoms may include knee instability, pain, swelling, or the sensation of a ‘locked-up’ knee. The recommendation for arthroscopic surgery depends on factors such as the type, size, location of the tear, accompanying symptoms, and the individual’s lifestyle or any associated injuries.

• Cartilage damage/osteoarthritis 

Surgery often represents the most effective treatment option for damaged cartilage, as it typically struggles to heal independently. While some procedures focus on relieving symptoms, others aim to repair and restore the damaged cartilage. Arthroscopic techniques are commonly utilized for most cases of cartilage injury.

• Soft tissue problems such as plicae syndrome

Knee synovial plicae are anatomically normal duplications of the synovial membrane. Synovial membranes are membranous folds within the knee joint. While synovial plicae are typically asymptomatic, they may become a source of pain due to injury or overuse, resulting from various conditions such as trauma, blunt force, twisting injuries, repetitive knee flexion, and extension, increased activity levels, and more. Plicae syndrome may include anterior knee pain, especially during knee bending or extending, cracking sounds, swelling, inflammation, and joint instability. Arthroscopic surgery is considered only if a conservative approach fails and patients do not respond to non-surgical strategies. Patients who do not experience a significant improvement despite conservative measures over 3 to 6 months are good candidates for arthroscopy investigation, which is the best dynamic way to confirm the diagnosis and the absence of other pathologies in a knee that is persistently painful and/or synovial plica resection.

• Soft tissue problems such as knee synovitis

Knee synovitis occurs when the synovial membrane becomes inflamed and swells, resulting in discomfort or pain during joint movement. Injuries, osteoarthritis, and various types of inflammatory arthritis can trigger synovium swelling, leading to pain and other symptoms. A conservative approach is almost always the first response. If conservative measures cannot effectively treat chronic synovitis of knee joints, it can be treated with surgeries involving arthroscopic synovectomy. Arthroscopy is an excellent tool for macroscopic visualization and evaluation of synovial conditions. It is important to emphasize that arthroscopic synovectomy is the preferred surgery due to its rapid recovery, minimal postoperative pain, and small incisions.