Arthroscopic Surgery
The physicians and surgeons at Round Rock Orthopaedics & Rehab are leaders in caring for the joints of the body. We service patients in Williamson and surrounding Counties, Central Texas, and the Greater Austin area. Our physicians and surgeons have advanced training performing arthroscopic surgery and use the latest advancements in technology to diagnosis, and perform the correct treatment plan to maximize your recovery.
Round Rock Orthopaedics & Rehab performs many procedures through the use of arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic surgery is a common procedure performed by an orthopaedic surgeon to diagnose and treat problems within a joint. The word "arthroscopy" comes from two Greek words: 'arthro,' meaning "joint," and 'scope,' meaning "look." Arthroscopic surgery is a means to look inside a joint; literally a camera attached to the arthroscope displays the image of the joint and its structures on a screen without exposing the entire joint. The end result of arthroscopic surgery is repair and/or removal of the damaged the structure, if it exist, and leaves less damage to surrounding structures, aiding in the recovery time.
Physician Highlight
Dr. Steve C. Wilson is a member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America 
(AANA), an organization designed to "promote, encourage, support and foster ... the development and dissemination of knowledge ... of arthroscopic surgery in order to improve upon the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculo-skeletal system.
Areas of the body that can undergo arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopic surgery is most commonly performed on the knee and shoulder joints. Less commonly arthroscoped joints include the hip, wrist, elbow, and ankle. The reason the knee and shoulder are the most commonly arthroscoped joints is that they are large enough to manipulate the instruments around, and they are amenable to arthroscopic surgery treatments.
Performing arthroscopic surgery
During joint arthroscopy a camera is inserted into the joint through a small incision (about one centimeter). The arthroscopic surgery camera is attached to a fiberoptic light source and shows a picture of the inside of the joint on a monitor. The surgeon uses water under pressure to "inflate" the joint allowing more maneuverability and to remove any debris. One or more additional incisions are made to insert instruments that can treat the underlying problem.
Common arthroscopic surgery
Many common knee and shoulder problems are amenable to arthroscopic surgery. As mentioned above, some common arthroscopic procedures include:
- Trimming a torn meniscus
- Repairing a torn meniscus
- Treatment of shoulder bursitis
- Repair of the rotator cuff
- Treatment of cartilage damage in the knee
- Treatment of labral tears in the shoulder
Safety of arthroscopic surgery
Understand that arthroscopic surgery is a surgical procedure and involves risks, which may include infection, blood clots, problems with anesthesia, etc. These are serious risks and the decision to undergo arthroscopic surgery should be taken seriously. That said, arthroscopic surgery is a "less invasive" procedure, and when performed for the right indications (meaning the right problems) it is often very successful. Ask your doctor for more information about arthroscopic surgery, and talk about the possible risks of undergoing the procedure.
