What Happens Before, During and After Arthroscopy?
• Patients should become comfortable with crutch walking before an arthroscopic procedure on the knee or other joint of the leg. • Complications from arthroscopy are rare, but risks may include infection, swelling, synovial rupture, blood clots, numbness, and joint injury. • Patients are typically asked to fast the night before and morning of the procedure. • Arthroscopy may be performed using local anesthesia. Patients may feel brief discomfort from the injection and the pressure of the tourniquet on the joint. In some cases, general anesthesia may be given. • Just before the procedure, a nurse may shave the area of the joint where the insertion will be made. • Monitoring equipment (EKG, pulse oximeter, etc.) may be attached to the patient. • Patients under local anesthesia may be given a mild sedative to help them relax during the procedure. What happens during arthroscopy? • An inflatable tourniquet is placed around the joint to be examined. • The joint is scrubbed according to stan
