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Dr. Matava explains if anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery is performed using a scope.
Dr. Matava:
Yes, they are. The vast majority of operations done nowadays for the ACL are done arthroscopically. Now, you still have to make a small incision to harvest the graft, but that’s considerably smaller than the 12 to 18-inch long scar that some people used to have when they had it done in an open procedure.
The arthroscopic portion of the operation allows a much better viewing environment within the knee so you can address other associate injuries. It makes placement of the graft more accurate and it makes the, what we call morbidity, or the stiffness, the pain after the surgery much less than if you had a large incision.
About Dr. Matava, M.D.:
Dr. Matthew J. Matava, M.D., is an associate professor and orthopedic surgeon at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Specializing in sports medicine, his clinical areas of interest include ligament injuries of the knee, athletic injuries of the shoulder and elbow, and pediatric orthopedic knee disorders.
Visit Dr. Matava at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis