Arthoscopic Surgery services offered in Oklahoma City
Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that allows orthopedic surgeons to examine and treat problems that affect the joints.
Joel Tupper, MD, and the team at Prairie Garden Medical in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, perform arthroscopic surgery to diagnose and treat joint injuries and diseases.
To find out more about arthroscopic surgery, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Arthoscopic Surgery Q&A
What is arthroscopic surgery?
Arthroscopic surgery is a procedural technique orthopedic surgeons use to evaluate and treat problems that affect a joint. During the procedure, your surgeon makes a small incision outside your joint and inserts an arthroscope — a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera.
The arthroscope transmits detailed images of your joint onto a computer screen, allowing your surgeon to evaluate the inside of your joint without making a large incision. Your surgeon then makes additional small incisions, inserting the surgical tools needed to treat your joint problem.
What does arthroscopic surgery treat?
The Prairie Garden Medical team uses arthroscopic surgery to treat many joint conditions, including:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
- Meniscus tear
- Rotator cuff tear
- Loose bone or cartilage
The team may use arthroscopic techniques when performing hand surgery or foot surgery, or when performing joint replacement procedures like knee replacement or hip replacement.
However, the team at Prairie Garden Medical only recommends surgery when conservative treatments like medication and physical therapy fail to improve your joint condition. In some cases, like an ACL tear, surgery may be your best option.
What are the advantages of arthroscopic surgery?
Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive technique that causes less damage to the body, offering many benefits for the healing process.
Some of the advantages of arthroscopic surgery include:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster recovery
- Less postsurgical pain
- Lower risk of complications
- Minimal scarring
- Most arthroscopic surgeries are done in an outpatient setting, so you get to go home the same day.
Though recovery time varies, some people go back to work within a few days following surgery. However, you may need to limit certain activities that stress the joint during the healing process.
Am I a candidate for arthroscopic surgery?
The Prairie Garden Medical team determines if you’re a candidate for arthroscopic surgery after an evaluation by the orthopedic surgeon.
They may consider you a candidate for surgery if conservative care fails to alleviate your symptoms or you have an injury that is unable to heal without surgical intervention.
The team also performs arthroscopic surgery to diagnose joint problems when imaging tests fail to provide a complete picture of your condition.
To find out more about arthroscopic surgery from the team at the multispecialty practice, call Prairie Garden Medical or schedule an appointment online today.