If you have a knee injury or chronic knee pain impacting your daily activities and enjoyment of life, knee surgery may be able to help. You’ve probably heard of knee replacement and may have heard of an arthroscopic knee reconstruction. How are they different? Is one a better option for some people? Below, we’ll take a closer look.
What Is Arthroscopic Knee Reconstruction?
Arthroscopic knee reconstruction is a minimally invasive surgery. It is guided by a tiny camera (an arthroscope). Your Huntington orthopedist can repair and reconstruct the knee while preserving as much natural knee tissue as possible.
It’s minimally invasive thanks to the camera and small, precise surgical tools involved. Your doctor only needs to make three small incisions (surgical cuts) that are less than one inch each.
What Is a Knee Replacement?
A knee replacement involves removing the joint portion of your knee and replacing it with an artificial joint. This requires a much larger incision made vertically across the surface of the knee.
This cut is around four to six inches, with enough room to remove the damaged joint and replace it with a new one. Of course, you’ll be under general anesthesia with either procedure, so you will sleep through the procedure.
Arthroscopic Surgery Vs. Replacement Goals
An arthroscopic knee reconstruction aims to resurface and repair the place where the joints touch each other. This may involve removing bone spurs that cause friction, pain, and inflammation. Your Huntington doctor may also recommend arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn ligament or cartilage.
You can also get a cartilage transplant through this method. A transplant may be a good option for those who are:
- Under 55
- Physically active
- Having localized osteoarthritis
Cartilage transplant can prevent the need for knee replacement in good candidates.
Your doctor might recommend a knee replacement in some cases. It may be a good option if doctors can no longer repair and reconstruct using less invasive arthroscopic knee reconstruction.
Artificial joints are smooth, so the joint should work better after a replacement. They also don’t have nerves, so the joint’s pain signals no longer go to your brain.
This does not mean “no pain” after the surgery but may mean less pain after the knee heals.
A doctor generally prefers minimally invasive procedures. There are less risk and recovery time, but you can often get a similar result with less pain.
In some cases, arthroscopic surgery may be tried first. Then if inflammation and knee pain is not significantly reduced, a knee replacement may be in order.
Arthroscopic Knee Surgery Vs. Knee Replacement Recovery Time
Every person will have unique needs that may impact recovery time. The typical recovery time for arthroscopic knee reconstruction is six weeks total. You can typically return to work and normal life after one week. However, you will be required to limit certain activities while the joint fully heals.
Knee replacement is a more significant surgery. Most people will be able to return to limited activities after about six weeks. Then it may take up to a year for any surgery-related pain and swelling to go away completely.
You will typically stay in a hospital for two to three days. During this time, you will work with a physical therapist to get the joint moving. After that, you may go to a rehab facility or home with restrictions. You may receive home physical therapy for a couple of weeks and/or have a gentle home exercise routine to follow.
Knee Surgery
Do you think you need knee surgery? You could be a candidate for minimally-invasive knee arthroscopic reconstruction. That means you may be able to avoid a knee replacement.
Your doctor at Huntington Orthopedic Institute in Pasadena is here to help you explore your options. We deliver advanced orthopedic care. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.