It is a very minimally invasive surgical procedure, where a special instrument called an arthroscope is used to examine the internal structure of the ankle and at the same time, repair any damaged tissue within the joint.
The arthroscope has a lens through which the doctor can visualize the problem and execute the relevant repair techniques to solve it, without having to make large incisions on the skin or tissues; Thanks to this, the surgery is less painful and the recovery time is much faster.
In ankle arthroscopy, anesthesia can be applied in two ways: general (complete) and regional (locally numbing the leg with the affected ankle); Even if the anesthesia is local, it is very likely that the specialist will give you a sedative to make you sleep during the intervention.
Arthroscopic ankle surgery is performed as follows:
Your surgeon will make a tiny incision that will allow you to insert the arthroscope to examine the inside of your ankle. Remember that the arthroscope has an internal camera, which in turn, will be connected to a monitor inside the operating room; which makes all the exploration easier.
Internal inspection of the ankle includes: soft tissues, cartilage, ligaments, bones, and tendons.
If the problem can be repaired, the doctor will make a couple of additional incisions to insert the arthroscopic instruments and solve the injury. Ankle arthroscopy is usually used to effectively treat tears in tendons, muscles, or cartilage.
The procedure ends by suturing the incisions and covering them with a sanitary dressing.
It is recommended that in consultations prior to arthroscopic ankle surgery, you tell your doctor in detail the medications you are taking; This includes any kind of supplements or natural herbs.
The information collected in the medical report must also contain: drug allergies or previous diseases (heart disease, diabetes, immune deficiency, among others) so that the specialist has a complete picture of the patient’s health.
Reduce the consumption of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, this will help promote healing. Avoid getting colds, flu, or infections, as sick people cannot be operated on.
On the day of the operation:
Make sure you arrive on time at the health center.
Follow the instructions given by the health personnel.
Eat only foods and portions approved by your doctor.
Take any medicine your doctor offers you without hesitation.
The world of medicine can be somewhat incomprehensible to our patients; For this reason, we will dedicate ourselves to answering the most frequent doubts about arthroscopic ankle surgery…
Ankle arthroscopy has multiple advantages, including: the patient can experience less pain, have an incredibly fast recovery, have a low risk of complications and enjoy a visibly neater aesthetic result.
The incisions are so small that they don’t take long to heal; On the other hand, if the repair was simple, you will be able to return to your activities soon. But, if your repair was very extensive, your recovery period will most likely be extended by a few more weeks.
Your orthopedist may teach you a couple of techniques to gradually exercise your joint, or suggest that you visit a physical therapist to help restore full function to your ankle.
As in any other surgery, ankle arthroscopy is not exempt from generating subsequent involvement. In this case it can be:
In ankle arthroscopy, doctors must apply a tourniquet to restrict blood flow, this allows us to have a maximum time of 90 minutes to complete the surgery.
Ankle arthroscopy leaves very small scar marks at the points where the arthroscope and the rest of the pieces of arthroscopic instruments passed, so it will not aesthetically affect the natural appearance of the foot and the joint itself.
Post-operative indications serve as a guide for you to properly care for your ankle when you are back home… We advise you to take into account the following:
