Arthroscopic lavage

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Arthroscopic lavage is the washing out or cleaning out the contents (blood, fluid or loose debris) inside a joint space. Lavage is a general term referring to the therapeutic washing, cleaning or rinsing. [1]

Contents

Medical uses

Excessive growth of irritated synovial membrane causes it to increase its surface area by buckling into fronds, and the fronds may become inflamed and pour destructive enzymes into the joint space, causing joint swelling and joint surface destruction. Removing this excess material via lavage frequently resolves arthritic knee inflammation or pain. [2]

Arthroscopic lavage is one of many procedures available to help reverse the damage of early arthritis. There is, however, controversy about the value of simple lavage and debridement for the older patient with established osteoarthritis. [3]

Needle lavage should not be used in an attempt to treat persons seeking long-term relief for symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee. [4] The use of this treatment in this case has not been shown to decrease pain, stiffness, tenderness, or swelling, or to increase 50-foot walking time or body function. [4]

Technique

Arthroscopic lavage is generally combined with arthroscopic debridement, where fronds of joint material or degenerative tissue are removed using a combination of injected fluid and a small vacuum, i.e. both washing (rinsing) and sucking. 'Arthroscopic' means that this is done using a tiny incision at the joint, where a thin arthroscope is pushed into the joint to inspect the structures.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meniscus tear</span> Rupturing of the fibrocartilage strips in the knee called menisci

A tear of a meniscus is a rupturing of one or more of the fibrocartilage strips in the knee called menisci. When doctors and patients refer to "torn cartilage" in the knee, they actually may be referring to an injury to a meniscus at the top of one of the tibiae. Menisci can be torn during innocuous activities such as walking or squatting. They can also be torn by traumatic force encountered in sports or other forms of physical exertion. The traumatic action is most often a twisting movement at the knee while the leg is bent. In older adults, the meniscus can be damaged following prolonged 'wear and tear'. Especially acute injuries can lead to displaced tears which can cause mechanical symptoms such as clicking, catching, or locking during motion of the joint. The joint will be in pain when in use, but when there is no load, the pain goes away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knee pain</span> Medical condition

Knee pain is pain in or around the knee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knee arthritis</span> Medical condition

Arthritis of the knee is typically a particularly debilitating form of arthritis. The knee may become affected by almost any form of arthritis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip arthroscopy</span>

Hip arthroscopy refers to the viewing of the interior of the acetabulofemoral (hip) joint through an arthroscope and the treatment of hip pathology through a minimally invasive approach. This technique is sometimes used to help in the treatment of various joint disorders and has gained popularity because of the small incisions used and shorter recovery times when compared with conventional surgical techniques. Hip arthroscopy was not feasible until recently, new technology in both the tools used and the ability to distract the hip joint has led to a recent surge in the ability to do hip arthroscopy and the popularity of it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post-traumatic arthritis</span> Medical condition

Post-traumatic arthritis (PTA) is a form of osteoarthritis following an injury to a joint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labral reconstruction</span> Medical procedure

Labral reconstruction is a type of hip arthroscopy in which the patient's native labrum is partially or completely removed and reconstructed using either autograft or allograft tissue. Originally described in 2009 using the ligamentum teres capitis, arthroscopic labral reconstruction using a variety of graft tissue has demonstrated promising short and mid-term clinical outcomes. Most importantly, labral reconstruction has demonstrated utility when the patient's native labral tissue is far too damaged for debridement or repair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugene Bishop Mumford</span>

Dr. Eugene Bishop or E.B. Mumford (1879-1961) was an American orthopedic surgeon, founder, and president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Mumford was known for his pioneering research of arthritis, joint stiffness, and creation of distal clavical excision or acromioplasty commonly known as The Mumford Procedure.

References

  1. "Definition of LAVAGE". www.merriam-webster.com.
  2. "Overview | Arthroscopic knee washout, with or without debridement, for the treatment of osteoarthritis | Guidance | NICE".
  3. Reichenbach, S; Rutjes, AW; Nüesch, E; Trelle, S; Jüni, P (12 May 2010). "Joint lavage for osteoarthritis of the knee" (PDF). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (5): CD007320. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007320.pub2. PMID   20464751.
  4. 1 2 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (February 2013), "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question", Choosing Wisely: an initiative of the ABIM Foundation , American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, retrieved 19 May 2013, which cites
    • Jevsevar, DS; Brown, GA; Jones, DL; Matzkin, EG; Manner, PA; Mooar, P; Schousboe, JT; Stovitz, S; Sanders, JO; Bozic, KJ; Goldberg, MJ; Martin WR, 3rd; Cummins, DS; Donnelly, P; Woznica, A; Gross, L; American Academy of Orthopaedic, Surgeons (Oct 16, 2013). "The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons evidence-based guideline on: treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, 2nd edition". The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume. 95 (20): 1885–6. doi:10.2106/00004623-201310160-00010. PMID   24288804.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    • Richmond, J; Hunter, D; Irrgang, J; Jones, MH; Levy, B; Marx, R; Snyder-Mackler, L; Watters WC, 3rd; Haralson RH, 3rd; Turkelson, CM; Wies, JL; Boyer, KM; Anderson, S; St Andre, J; Sluka, P; McGowan, R; American Academy of Orthopaedic, Surgeons (Sep 2009). "Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (nonarthroplasty)". The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 17 (9): 591–600. doi:10.5435/00124635-200909000-00006. PMC   3170838 . PMID   19726743.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)