The Benefits of Arthroscopy for Sports Injuries
The risk of an injury is inevitable for an athlete. Frequent overuse and general wear-and-tear of the joints often result in torn muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Fortunately for athletes suffering from common sports injuries, a surgical option called arthroscopy is available that can have them back enjoying their active lifestyle in a relatively short period of time.
What is Arthroscopy?
The most effective treatment for major sports injuries, arthroscopic surgery (or arthroscopy) is a minimally-invasive procedure recommended for sports injuries that do not require open surgery. Arthroscopy involves small incisions at the injured joint through which an arthroscopic camera and surgical tools are inserted to assess and repair any damage. It has become the ideal surgical option for athletes because it isolates the surgery to only the injured area — allowing healthy bone and tissue to remain intact.
Sports Injuries Eligible for Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is commonly performed to repair knee and shoulder sports injuries such as:
- ACL tears
- Meniscus tears
- Torn rotator cuffs
- SLAP and Bankart labral tears
- AC joint arthritis and separations
- Bursitis and impingement
- Shoulder joint fractures
- Cartilage damage and ligament tears
Arthroscopy Benefits
Arthroscopy can benefit both athletes and non-athletes alike. The procedure avoids open surgery and further damage to your injury by allowing our doctors to see what is going on inside your joint in the least-invasive way possible. The benefits of arthroscopy over open surgery include:
- Smaller, minimally-invasive incisions
- Less damaging to surrounding areas of the joint
- Less traumatic procedure
- Significantly shorter recovery time
- Less post-surgery pain
- Less scarring than open surgery
Expert Arthroscopic Experience
If you are suffering from a painful sports injury, consult with the orthopedic surgeons at Advanced Orthopedics Institute. Our highly qualified orthopedists can determine if arthroscopy is the right option for you and help you return to the sport you love as soon as possible. Call AOI at 352-751-2862 to schedule an appointment and get back to a pain-free life.
