Arthroscopy of your Ankle
An arthroscopy allows your surgeon to diagnose and treat some common problems affecting your ankle, without the need for a large cut on your skin. This may reduce the amount of pain you feel and speed up your recovery.
An arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) allows your surgeon to see inside your ankle using a camera inserted through small cuts on your skin. Your surgeon can diagnose problems such as damage to the joint surface or ligaments, and arthritis.
The aim is to confirm exactly what the problem is and for many people the problem can be treated at the same time.
Problems inside your ankle can often be diagnosed using a magnetic scan (MRI scan) but you may then need an arthroscopy to treat the problem.
Various anaesthetic techniques are possible.
The operation usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Your surgeon will examine your ankle ligaments while you are under the anaesthetic and your muscles are completely relaxed. They will insert a small camera through one or more small cuts around your ankle.
They will wash out any loose material caused by wear of the joint surfaces. Your surgeon will remove any spurs of bone or swelling of the lining of your ankle joint.
If you have torn your ankle ligaments, you may need a reconstruction operation.
You should be able to go home the same day.
It is common for your ankle to be a little swollen for a few weeks.
Walking can be uncomfortable and you may need to take painkillers to help relieve your pain.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Most people make a good recovery and can return to normal activities.
Some complications can be serious and can even cause death.
General complications of any operation
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Difficulty passing urine
- Unsightly scarring of your skin
- Infection of the surgical site (wound)
- Blood clot in your leg
- Blood clot in your lung
Specific complications of this operation
- Compartment syndrome, where the calf muscles swell and get tight
- Infection in your ankle joint
- Severe pain, stiffness and loss of use of your ankle
- Damage to nerves around your ankle
Consultants who provide this treatment
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