Knee Arthroscopy Complications

Arthroscopic knee surgery has helped the field of orthopedics tremendously. In many cases, where an open surgery would have been necessary to treat an injury or problem, a surgeon can now use arthroscopic instruments to do all the work within the joint and only make three small incisions. Even with the best care, however, complications can occur. This article will give you some information on some of the complications that can occur from arthroscopic knee surgery.

Damage

• In rare cases, during an arthroscopic surgery, a ligament, tendon or bone fragment can be dislodged or damaged. This can require further surgery to fix, or the need for an open surgery, which means longer recovery and a bigger scar. This is an extremely rare complication, and in most cases can be corrected at the time it happens.

Infection

• This is a far bigger worry than the above listed concern. Although the incisions for arthroscopic knee surgery are much smaller than a standard open surgery, it is still an opening to the inside of the joint of the knee. Bacteria, deadly staph and other pathogens can find their way into the body during or after the surgery and infect the joint. An infection in your joint should be taken very seriously.

Failed Surgery

• Another complication of arthroscopic surgery is when it doesn't work. This is also rare. In most cases, whether it is meniscus repair or an ACL surgery, the surgeon gets into the joint and is able to successfully complete the surgery. But in rare cases, for whatever reason, the surgery either is not successful while the surgeon is working, or the surgery fails shortly after. An example is a failed ACL repair. If the ACL ligament tears or disconnects after a repair, the surgery has failed and will have to be redone.

Joint Abnormality

• In some cases, the surgeon will get into the knee joint with his tools and find that the knee joint is malformed, or has some abnormality that no one is prepared for. An example might be a bone chip that has been floating around and "hiding" in the soft tissues. This bone chip might be too large to remove with arthroscopic instruments, and the surgeon will either have to perform an open surgery, or stop the surgery and reschedule for an open surgery. Even with the best technology, mother nature can still pull some surprises out of her hat.

Symptoms

• After you have had arthroscopic surgery, you need to watch for a few things. If the joint becomes red and swollen after the first couple of days, if the incisions start to ooze pus or if you run a fever, it is critical to get into the doctor as soon as possible even if it means the emergency room. This is a sign of infection. If you are recovering and find that the knee is making popping, grinding or catching sounds/sensations, you need to have it examined by the surgeon. If you have had an ACL repair and hear a loud pop, or feel the knee go completely unstable, chances are you have torn it again, and you will need to see your surgeon.