Arthroscopic Surgery
| Arthroscopic surgery is a type of surgery that is considered minimally invasive as opposed to open surgery. Arthroscopic is an examination and oftentimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint which is done using an arthroscope. An arthroscope is an endoscope that is placed into the joint through a small incision or cut. Sometimes arthroscopic examinations are done to evaluate orthopaedic conditions and other times they are done to treat orthopaedic conditions such as torn cartilage, ACL reconstruction, and other types of cartilage damage.
One of the advantages of arthroscopic surgery as opposed to open surgery is that the joint does not need to be completely opened. Rather, small cuts are made – generally one if for the arthroscope and another for any surgical instruments. Because the skin or connective tissue is affected less than in a open surgery, the time it takes to get better is reduced. Some doctors feel that the success rate of arthroscopic procedures is higher than open surgery. Arthroscopic surgery also leaves less of a scar or mark as opposed to open surgery, which is more noticeable. Arthroscopic instruments are generally smaller than the tools that are used in open surgery. The doctor (surgeon) is able to view the area of the joint through a video monitor. This helps the surgeon evaluate and fix the damaged joint tissue, includings mensici and ligaments. Often times as a result of personal injury such as car accidents and slip and falls, arthroscopic surgery is used to repair the shoulder, knee, elbow. wrist, ankle, hip and TMJ joint. Arthroscopy is used for joints of the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle and hip. The settlement values in personal injury cases involving arthroscopic surgery is generally less than open surgery for the reasons mentioned above. Attorney Justin Ziegler has represents injured accident victims who have had arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder and knee. Justin also defended insurance companies involving different arthroscopic surgeries. |
