Knee Arthroscopy in Kansas City
Knee Arthroscopy
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Understanding the Basics Behind Knee Arthroscopy
What is Knee Arthroscopy?
Whether you’re playing your favorite sport, actively exercising, or just walking in the grocery aisle, an acute knee injury can happen to anyone. More chronic knee issues can occur with years of repeated motions or physical activity.
Knee problems vary in severity, but they can greatly impact your ability to function, live a normal life, or participate in the activities and hobbies you enjoy.
A knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows surgeons to see inside the joint. A small tube with a camera is inserted through a minor incision, allowing the surgeon to make a more definitive diagnosis, and eliminating the need for a large surgical incision. Arthroscopy can be used to diagnose issues by allowing the surgeon to view the actual tissue. Arthroscopy is also the most common method used to treat many orthopedic conditions in the knee.
Choosing a knee arthroscopy in Kansas City is a decision that involves guidance from your orthopedic physician.
When you choose Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, one of our highly-trained orthopedic knee specialists will conduct an initial evaluation to better understand your condition. After a complete review of your results, your provider will discuss whether knee arthroscopy is the best treatment option for you.
Common injuries that may require a knee arthroscopy include:
- Torn ligaments (support structures in and around the knee)
- Torn meniscus (the cartilage between the bones in the knee)
- Fracture in the knee area
- Loose bodies in the joint
- Patella (knee cap) out of alignment
- Removal of a Baker’s cyst
- Swollen synovium (the lining in the joint)
Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance Knee Arthroscopy Assessment
Assessing the Injury
Determining the proper treatment process for knee and leg injuries starts with an assessment from one of experienced providers.
You can think of knee and leg pain as a spectrum, with some instances being more severe than others. The KCOA orthopedic specialists always focus on each patient and their concerns before creating a treatment plan.
Therefore, during your initial appointment, we will often ask questions such as:
From there, we can decide what treatment option will align best with your needs and lifestyle goals. Once we’ve completed a proper assessment, your provider will often begin with a physical examination to help determine the origin point of your pain. In some cases, advanced testing may be required for a full diagnosis.
- Does your pain currently limit you or your activities?
- Has your pain progressed or worsened recently?
- Did you notice or hear a popping sound at the time of your injury?
- Are you having a catch, clicking or grinding in your knee?
- Have you noticed any change in your symptoms that has made it more challenging to function?
- What are your lifestyle goals?
- How has pain affected those goals?
Examination
X-Ray
Also called radiographs, an X-ray captures a picture of the foot or ankle. Orthopedic physicians may order an X-ray to rule out the possibility of a fracture (broken bone), osteoarthritis, or other bone-related conditions.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI captures images of muscles, bones, intervertebral discs, and tendons to help provide information other tests can’t detail. During an MRI, you will lie on a table that slides into a tube-shaped scanner. The machine creates a magnetic field around you, using pulsed radio waves to form the MRI images.
Symptoms
Common Signs and Symptoms of Knee & Leg Injuries
With so many different parts working together in your knees, there are many potential causes of pain. And each of those causes has a unique set of symptoms.
There are a variety of knee problems that one can face, including joint sprains or strains, fractures, torn ligaments, and more. When they occur, the providers at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance are adept at finding the necessary treatments to correct the issue. Our expert orthopedic knee physicians at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance have the knowledge required to treat numerous issues, surgically and non-surgically. When you visit a specialist at KCOA, we focus on creating a treatment plan based on your specific conditions, symptoms, and recovery goals.
Causes
Causes of Knee Pain
The body has different kinds of joints, and they all face different challenges.
The severity of your knee and leg pain can vary based on a number of factors, including the location and the source of the issue. Because of the mobility in the knee, it can be susceptible to injuries that occur acutely or more chronic conditions that build up over the years. Soft tissue made up of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels protects these joints and bones.
Both acute and chronic injuries can be corrected by the experts at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance. When you visit us we’ll take the time to determine the cause of your pain and determine whether a treatment like knee arthroscopy is best for you.
Treatment Alternatives
In most cases, surgery is not the first option for treatment at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance. If we can treat your knee issues with more conservative treatments, we’ll choose those options. We typically exhaust all non-surgical options prior to recommending surgery. Non-surgical treatments for the knee and include:
Physical Therapy
A trained therapist will focus on the issue that’s causing the pain or symptoms as well as the deficits that are present as a result of the injury. Stretches, strengthening exercises, manual soft tissue work and modalities like hot and cold therapy may be used to help you recover.
Medications
Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil) or prescription medications. Especially with NSAIDs, you should always talk to your doctor to ensure they are the right treatment for you.
Injections
Cortisone injections can help reduce inflammation, and the effects tend to last for 3 to 6 months before you might need another one. Many people manage their pain with injections and physical therapy.
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicines like stem cell injections or platelet-rich plasma can help nourish worn or damaged tissue. This option works best if you have mild-to-moderate knee pain.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance is here to help.
Our care is personal. Our team is knowledgeable. And we’re more available than ever.
With access to board-certified specialists across Kansas City, we have the tools to meet almost every musculoskeletal condition.
Our Locations
Overland Park, Kansas
10777 Nall Ave Suite 300 Overland Park, KS 66211Leawood, Kansas
3651 College Blvd. Leawood, KS 66211Kansas City, Missouri
Saint Luke's Medical Plaza #1 4320 Wornall Rd., Ste. 610 Kansas City, MO 64111Belton, Missouri
Belton Regional Campus 17067 S Outer Rd #301 Belton, MO 64012Merriam, Kansas
7450 W. Frontage Rd Merriam, KS 66203Blue Springs, Missouri
St. Mary’s Medical Center, Main Entrance 203 NW R.D. Mize Road, Suite 250 Blue Springs, MO 64014Shawnee Mission, Kansas
7450 Kessler St ste. 140 Merriam, KS 66204Prairie Star (Lenexa, Kansas)
Prairie Star 23401 Prairie Star PkwyBldg. B, Ste. 220 Lenexa, KS 66227