The Many Benefits of Arthroscopic Surgery

If you have a joint injury requiring surgery to diagnose and repair the damage, arthroscopic surgery or arthroscopy is likely your best bet.

This type of surgery is commonplace today, but it represents one of the great advances in orthopedic surgery in the 20th century. Moving from open surgical procedures to minimally invasive arthroscopy has numerous benefits, especially when you’re in the hands of a gifted and seasoned surgeon like Steven E. Nolan, M.D.

In an arthroscopic procedure, Dr. Nolan inserts an arthroscope, which includes a tiny camera and light, through a small incision at the site of the injury. The camera then shows an image of the joint's interior on a monitor, enabling Dr. Nolan to diagnose and treat the issue. He inserts tiny surgical instruments to make the repair as he watches closely on the monitor.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of arthroscopic surgery.

Smaller incisions

The big advantage of arthroscopic surgery is that the necessary incisions are tiny (usually about the size of a buttonhole or keyhole) instead of the several-inch incisions that open surgery requires. This leads to all sorts of secondary benefits.

Less swelling and inflammation

Because the incisions are small, the amount of trauma to your soft tissues is less, which means you’ll have less pain, swelling, and inflammation to deal with as you heal. 

Faster return to function

Again, because the incisions are tiny, healing is much faster than the large wounds that need to heal due to open surgery, so you can quickly swap the larger surgical bandages for smaller ones.

You’ll also be able to return to activities that require using your joints much more quickly. You can often resume work and regular activities in just a few days. If you’re a high-level athlete, your recovery will take longer as your body returns to top shape.

Lower risk of complications

Joint surgery used to require prolonged periods where the joint was exposed, which greatly increased the risk of infection. The amount of scar tissue that could form, which would then restrict your range of motion, was also greater. 

Arthroscopy changes all that. Smaller incisions mean less chance for infection and less scar tissue that could affect the range of motion for the joint.

Outpatient procedure

Because the surgery is minimally invasive, Dr. Nolan can easily perform arthroscopic surgery as an outpatient procedure. This is much less expensive than an open surgery, which almost always requires a full hospital setting. The outpatient experience also means you go home more quickly, usually within just a few hours after the procedure.

If you need arthroscopic surgery, Dr. Nolan is the best around. Call our Sugar Land office or use our online appointment request form to schedule a consultation.