Ankle Arthroscopy – Procedure and Recovery

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that is used to treat different kinds of joint issues. It is a popular treatment method for patients with joint problems as it uses a minimally invasive method to treat the condition.

What Kind of Ankle Problems Can Be Treated with Arthroscopy?

Some common causes of ankle issues are accidents and injuries. Ankle arthroscopy may be advised in the following cases:

•     When a fracture does not cause a clean break and even after the larger bones set, there is debris around the area which causes pain and inflammation.

•      When there is ligament damage after a bad sprain.

•      When there is tissue and tendon damage around the ankle due to wear and tear.

What Does an Arthroscopic Procedure Entail?

The procedure is usually done in an operating theater. The ankle is numbed locally with an anesthetic. A small incision is made in the ankle and a fiber optic camera is inserted into the incision. With the help of the camera, small surgical tools will be used to perform this procedure. The incisions will be closed up and bandaged after the procedure is over. Arthroscopy helps in a speedier recovery while minimizing scarring. Complications too are fewer than open surgery.

Also Read: Treating an ankle sprain

Recovery from Ankle Arthroscopy

The recovery time after an ankle arthroscopy will depend on how fast the ankle heals and how bad the injury was. The podiatrist may recommend the use of crutches for a while to lessen the weight on the ankle. Sometimes, in the case of a severe injury, the patient may be placed in an immobilizer for as long as five to six weeks. If the arthroscopic remodeling involved extensive surgery, the podiatrist may have the leg encased in a cast to prevent movement and promote healing. Medication may be prescribed after surgery to help manage pain and inflammation.

The podiatrist will then give a rehabilitation plan to be followed for complete recovery.

PRP and Its Use in Healing

What Is PRP?

PRP is the acronym for platelet-rich plasma which is a concentration of a person’s blood platelets. It helps in promoting tissue healing and regeneration. It also promotes new capillary growth and accelerates epithelialization in chronic wounds.

When Is PRP Therapy Recommended?

Our joints undergo constant abuse. It could be because of extreme sports and training; it could be through wear and tear or it could be because of aging. But every one of us has been to a doctor due to some kind of pain related to our ligaments, tendons and cartilage. It may have been a torn ACL, rotator cuff tear, Achilles tendon rupture, tendonitis or some other soft-tissue related injury. Some problems are not very severe and with a little help from a podiatrist, simple treatment plans and pain and inflammation medication, get better.

But at times, the injury can also be quite severe and could take a long time to heal and can even become chronic. That’s when PRP therapy may be suggested as it helps in tissue regeneration. When treated with PRP injections, the injury heals faster and the recovery is quicker.

How Does PRP Therapy Work?

This procedure uses the platelet rich plasma of the patient’s own body to heal tissue. Platelets contain thrombocytes that help in creating blood clots and have healing and regenerative properties. 

The injections are prepared by taking a few tubes of blood from the patient and running it through a centrifuge. This concentrates the platelets which are then prepared as injections. Using ultrasound imaging, it is injected into the tendon or ligament that is damaged.

Benefits of Using PRP Injections

•         Recovery is faster
•         The requirement of anti-inflammatory and pain medication is reduced
•         Side effects are limited

Podiatrists around the world are using this new therapy to reverse problems caused by soft tissue damage with great results.