An arthroscope is a narrow tube attached to a fiber optic video camera inserted through a small incision into your ankle joint to diagnose and treat your symptoms.
What is an arthroscopy?
An arthroscope is less than 5mm wide and contains a fibre optic light system and several small lenses. When attached to a miniature television camera it allows a surgeon to look inside your ankle joint through very small incisions about 1cm long (keyhole surgery). The operation is usually performed under general anaesthetic but can also be done using a regional anaesthetic to numb the legs.
Risks
All operations carry a small risk of complications but fortunately they are uncommon after ankle arthroscopy (less than 2 in 100 cases) and they are usually minor. You will have an anaesthetic which, even using modern techniques, still carries a slight risk and varies depending on your general health. Possible complications of an arthroscopy include:
The most common after effect (though still unusual) is a patch of numb skin or sensitive scar due to damage to the small nerves in the skin. This normally settles gradually but it can take several months.
Infections usually only involve the wound area but can spread to involve the joint. Most infections settle after a short course of antibiotics, but very rarely they require a further arthroscopy to wash out the joint.
Blood clots in the veins or lungs are also very unusual. Certain types of oral contraceptive (the pill) may increase this risk and may need to be stopped six weeks before your surgery. If you are on the pill, you must inform your surgeon and discuss your options before booking any surgery.
Reducing your risk
Most patients find simple measures can make a big difference to the outcome of surgery. The evidence from studies and our experience supports this:
The operation
A diagnostic arthroscopy may be performed to look inside your ankle joint to see what is causing your symptoms.
More commonly the surgeon uses the arthroscope in conjunction with other small specialist instruments introduced into the joint through several small incisions to perform a variety of procedures. We will only perform minor procedures at Tetbury Hospital including washing out fluid or tissue debris, removing or reattaching loose fragments, removing or breaking down scar tissue and drilling or grafting defects in the joint surface. We are unable to perform major procedures such as fusing a worn-out ankle joint.
If the procedure involves a local anaesthetic, patients can go home the same day.
Recovery
Most people can return to static type work after two weeks. People with more physically strenuous jobs may need longer. Driving short distances is usually possible within a week.
