Ankle arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique orthopedic surgeons use to diagnose and treat chronic ankle and foot disorders. The procedure involves your specialist using a tiny camera that magnifies and transmits your ankle images to a video screen. Through Fort Worth arthroscopy, your specialist can detect your ankle problems and repair them through small incisions on your skin or tissue. The small incisions ensure you experience minimal pain and recover more quickly than open surgery. Ankle arthroscopy can diagnose and treat various conditions, and here are some.
Ankle fractures
Your surgeon can use ankle arthroscopy alongside open treatment procedures to repair ankle fractures. These treatments help to ensure your bone and cartilage are aligned usually. Ankle fractures can result from an accident, fall, or twisting. Ankle arthroscopy can also be used during ankle fracture repair to check out cartilage injuries inside your ankle.
Ankle instability and arthritis
Your ankle ligaments can become stretched out due to overuse or repetitive actions of your foot. Surgery can help tighten these ligaments. Your surgeon can recommend ankle arthroscopy to treat moderate instability. Arthroscopy enables your surgeon to perform ankle fusion to treat ankle arthritis. It gives outcomes better or equal to open techniques.
Anterior ankle impingement
Anterior ankle impingement, also called athlete’s ankle, happens when bone or soft tissue at the front of your ankle joint becomes inflamed. Inflammation can limit your ability to bend the ankle up, and walking uphill is mostly painful. Arthroscopy can help to shave away inflamed tissues and bone spurs.
Posterior ankle impingement
Posterior ankle impingement happens when the soft tissue at the back of your ankle becomes inflamed. You can feel pain when you point down your foot. Posterior ankle impingement results from overuse of your ankle joint. It can also result from an extra bone known as Os Trigonum Syndrome. Arthroscopy can help remove the tissue problem.
Synovitis
The soft tissue lining of your ankle joint, called synovial tissue, can become inflamed, leading to pain and swelling. Injury or overuse can lead to synovitis. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can also lead to synovitis. Your doctor can recommend ankle arthroscopy to surgically remove the inflamed tissue that does not respond to non-surgical procedures.
Loose bodies
If any cartilage, bone, and scar tissue floats freely in your joint, they form substances known as loose bodies. Sometimes loose bodies are painful and cause problems such as clicking and catching. Locking of your ankle joint can also occur. Ankle arthroscopy helps to find and remove these loose bodies.
Osteochondral defect (OCD)
Osteochondral defects are areas of damaged cartilage and bone in your ankle joint. Ankle injuries like fractures or ankles mainly cause OCD. You can experience pain and swelling or have a catching or clicking in your ankle. Your doctor’s treatment depends on the size, location, symptoms, and severity of your OCD. Arthroscopy can scrape away the damaged cartilage and drill small holes in your bone to enhance healing.
Ankle arthroscopy is a safe treatment procedure that involves less tissue disruption and bleeding and reduces the risk of swelling and infection after surgery. Schedule an appointment at Trinity Foot & Ankle Specialists for ankle arthroscopy to effectively diagnose and treat your foot and ankle disorders.