Ankle Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is amongst the most commonly performed procedures in orthopedic surgery. Technological advances such as high definition monitors and high resolution cameras have made arthroscopy a very effective tool for treating a variety of ankle problems.

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure used to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint. The procedure involves making a small incision in the skin and inserting a pencil-sized camera into an injured or damaged joint. The arthroscope’s tiny camera and instrumentation allow Dr. Samimi to see inside the joint in a magnified and illuminated manner to accurately diagnose and effectively treat the condition. Dr. Samimi specializes in the treatment of complex and routine ankle problems that may be treated with arthroscopic techniques.

Arthroscopy is almost always performed as outpatient surgery and offers such benefits as reduced risk, fewer complications, less postoperative pain, less recovery time, and far less scarring.

Reasons to Perform Arthroscopic Ankle Surgery

Arthroscopic ankle surgery may be used to treat:

Cartilage Damage
Small, isolated areas of cartilage damage (not widespread ankle arthritis) is a commonly found in people who have sustained injuries to the ankle joint. In fact, cartilage damage is estimated to occur in about 5% of people who sustain a sprained ankle. Left untreated, these cartilage areas may lead to the development of generalized arthritis of the joint.

Ankle arthroscopy is often used to assess these areas of cartilage damage and try to restore the normal cartilage surface to the joint. Restoring a cartilage surface can be accomplished by either repairing the damaged cartilage, or by trying to stimulate new cartilage growth with a microfracture, cartilage transfer, or chondrocyte implantation procedure.

Removing Bone Spurs
Bone spurs can form in the front of the ankle joint, causing the ankle to pinch when the foot is pushed all the way up towards the shin. This condition, properly termed anterior ankle impingement syndrome, has also been called athlete's ankle or footballer's ankle. Ankle arthroscopy can be used to shave down the bone spur on the front of the joint, to allow for improved motion of the ankle joint.

Removing Loose Debris/Scar Tissue
Ankle arthroscopy can be helpful whenever these is a condition causing the accumulation of loose debris or scar tissue within the ankle joint. Removing debris or scar tissue may be helpful in restoring motion and decreasing swelling and pain inside the joint.

Treatment of Posterior Ankle Pain
Pain in the back of the ankle can sometimes be treated arthroscopically. While there is limited space to perform an arthroscopic procedure in the back of the ankle, there are some conditions that can be helped when people have posterior ankle pain. Certain types of tendonitis and some bone spurs in the back of the ankle may be treated arthroscopically.

Performing Arthroscopic Ankle Surgery

Ankle arthroscopy can be done under general or regional anesthesia. After adequate anesthesia, your surgeon will create 'portals' to gain access to the ankle joint. The portals are placed in specific locations to minimize the potential for injury to surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and tendons. Through one portal, a camera is placed into the joint, and through others, small instruments can be used to address the problem.

The length of the ankle arthroscopy procedure varies depending on what needs to be accomplished, but typically will take approximately one hour. Surgery is almost always done on an outpatient basis, meaning you will go home the same day.

After surgery, your ankle will be wrapped in a soft bandage or splint. Most patients will work with a physical therapist to regain motion and strength of the joint. The length of rehabilitation will also vary depending on what procedure is performed at the time of surgery.

Complications

The most concerning complication of arthroscopic ankle surgery is injury to one of the nerves or tendons that surround the ankle joint. Other complications include infection and damage to joint cartilage from the arthroscopy instruments.