Dr. Soham Dinda, Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon in Tamluk, Purba Medinipur (MBBS Hons, NRSMCH; MS Orthopaedics, RG Kar MC&H), explains arthroscopy, ACL, PCL, meniscus: symptoms, causes, tests and treatment options.
What is arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is a keyhole surgery technique in which a thin camera (arthroscope) is passed into a joint through small cuts, usually about the size of a buttonhole. The surgeon sees the inside of the joint on a monitor and repairs the damage using fine instruments. It is used mainly for the knee and shoulder, and also for the hip, ankle and elbow.
Compared with open surgery, arthroscopy usually means smaller wounds, less pain after the operation and a quicker start to rehabilitation.
Problems treated with arthroscopy
- ACL tear (anterior cruciate ligament), common in football, kabaddi, cricket and badminton
- PCL injury (posterior cruciate ligament), often from a fall or dashboard injury in accidents
- Meniscus tears, causing knee locking, clicking and pain on twisting
- Loose bodies or cartilage damage inside the knee
- Shoulder instability, recurrent dislocation and rotator cuff tears
- Chronic shoulder impingement that has not settled with treatment
Symptoms of a ligament or meniscus injury
- A popping sound or feeling at the time of injury
- Rapid knee swelling within hours
- The knee feels loose or gives way when you turn or change direction
- Pain on the inside or outside of the knee, locking or catching
- Difficulty walking downstairs or returning to sport
Many people ignore a sprain that does not settle. A torn ACL or meniscus left untreated can lead to repeated giving way and early cartilage wear, so it is wise to get an examination and an MRI if the knee remains unstable.
How are sports injuries diagnosed?
Dr. Dinda will ask how the injury happened and carry out specific tests to check the ligaments and menisci. An X-ray rules out fractures, and an MRI scan shows soft tissue injuries such as ACL, PCL, meniscus and cartilage tears in detail.
Treatment: surgery is not always the first step
Treatment is matched to your age, activity and the exact injury.
- Rest, ice, brace and physiotherapy for partial tears and for people with low activity demands
- Meniscus repair or trimming by arthroscopy when a tear causes locking or persistent pain
- ACL reconstruction for active people whose knee keeps giving way, replacing the torn ligament with a graft taken from your own tendon
- PCL reconstruction in selected cases of significant instability
- Shoulder arthroscopy for instability and rotator cuff repair
Recovery and return to sport
Rehabilitation matters as much as the operation. After ACL surgery, you will begin with knee movement and quadriceps exercises, move on to walking without support, and then to jogging, strengthening and sport-specific drills. A return to competitive sport is usually considered only after strength and control are properly restored, which commonly takes several months. Your timeline will be explained to you based on your own progress.
Sports injury care close to home
Patients from Tamluk, Haldia, Contai, Mecheda and nearby towns can consult Dr. Soham Dinda, who completed MS Orthopaedics at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata. Early evaluation helps protect the joint and gets you back to the field safely.
সংক্ষেপে বাংলায়
খেলতে গিয়ে বা পড়ে গিয়ে হাঁটু মুচড়ে গেলে, ফুলে গেলে বা হাঁটু আলগা মনে হলে লিগামেন্ট (ACL/PCL) বা মেনিস্কাস ছিঁড়ে যেতে পারে। এমআরআই করে বোঝা যায় ঠিক কী হয়েছে। অনেক ক্ষেত্রে ফিজিওথেরাপি ও ব্রেসে কাজ হয়, আর দরকার হলে ছোট ছিদ্রের মাধ্যমে আর্থ্রোস্কোপি বা ACL রিকনস্ট্রাকশন করা হয়। তমলুকে পরামর্শের জন্য ফোন করুন ৮৯১০০৫১০৭২।
This page is for general awareness and does not replace a consultation. Please see a qualified doctor for diagnosis and treatment.