Over 4 million people go forward with arthroscopic knee surgery every year for conditions such as torn cartilage or to get at the heart of why their knee has pain and discomfort. Many patients choose to go forward with the surgery as they search out something or anything to relieve their knee pain. During these surgeries, the orthopedic surgeon makes a very small incision in the knee in order to get a tiny camera in there to view what is going on inside the joint for diagnosis and repairs. Despite the procedure being pretty minimally invasive, anesthesia is required and studies have found that middle-aged and older adults having such surgeries could actually be put at risk. The risk could likely outweigh the most often temporary (3 to 6 months at best) pain relief benefits.
The most common risk of undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery is blood clots in the leg (deep vein thrombosis), blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), and infections. There are also always anesthesia risks with serious complications, especially in riskier patients. Studies have shown that those patients receiving the arthroscopic knee surgery did not have justifiably greater benefits in pain reduction than surgical placebo groups or patients who utilized exercise and therapy. With the potentially deadly risks, patients would certainly need to speak seriously with their medical providers about whether the surgery is worth potential, serious harm. Although, patients might look to the surgery for a faster solution than conservative measures that require sweat equity and time, findings have determined there are likely not more lasting pain solutions with the surgeries.
If you or a loved one is suffering with nagging, bothersome knee pain, be sure to be a savvy patient consumer who is educated and willing to weigh the risks and benefits seriously with a medical professional willing to do the same. Inserra & Kelley Law Offices desires the utmost health and safety for all of you out there and is here to answer your questions as to whether you may be due compensation for injury or danger to your health.