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Surgeries near joints often need to open up the joints, leaving more damages. Arthroscopy places a tiny tube in the joint cavity to observe the conditions in the joints and to perform surgeries, which leaves less damage with faster recovery. Arthroscopy may be used in shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles and is a trend for now.

Purpose

The purpose is to observe the structure in joint cavity and provide accurate diagnosis based on the observation. Various surgeries and biopsy may be performed with arthroscopy as well.

Precautions after the Procedure

• If you use lumbar anesthesia, please lie flat on your back without pillows or elevating your head. You may lie on your side. If you use other type of anesthesia, nurses will remind you of the precautions.
• Nurses will inform you if food and drinks are allowed.
• You might have a plastic tube attached to the incision and goes to a round or square container. The tube is for draining the blood. The amount of blood drained may be more on the day of procedure with bright red color. The amount of blood will decrease in 2 -3 days and color turns darker. The doctor will decide if to remove the tube at this time.
• Patients with elastic bandages wrapped up to thigh need doctor’s instruction as to be out of the bed to resume daily routines.
• The rule mentioned above applies to patients with joints compressed wrapped to prevent bleeding inside the joint and swelling.
• Stitches may be removed 10 – 14 days after the procedure as instructed by the doctor.

Instructions for Self Care

• The elastic bandages wrapped around the joint may be removed in a week and may be rewrapped for appropriate tightness.
• Maintain normal walking posture. It is normal to feel sore when walking within 1 week after the procedure.
• Please ask your doctor if your job requires walking. You may resume normal activities after discharge if there is no discomfort. Avoid excessive weight bearing within 2 weeks.
• Please go to your doctor if pain, red, swelling, or warmness occurs in the wound. Do not take any medicine.

Doctor your make appointment for your next visit and give you prescription medicines when you are discharged. Medical staff will give the appointment slip to you and explain the medicine effects, instructions, and wound care instructions to you.