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The skeletomuscular system is vulnerable to various ailments, in addition to mechanical wear and tear that happens over time. Treatment options for these ailments include rest, exercise, physiotherapy, oral or topical medication, appliances or fixtures (splints, casts, implants), and finally surgery. Till a few decades back, open surgery was the only alternative to fix major, orthopedic conditions. However, in recent years, minimally invasive surgery has become popular across different branches of medicine that concern different body systems. These procedures are also called endoscopic, laparoscopic, or keyhole surgeries. These names are used interchangeably as the concept in them is the same.
In open surgery, wide incisions are made in order to access the area to be operated on. The patient is given anesthesia and must be hospitalized for a week or more for close monitoring. There is bleeding during the procedure with mild trauma or injury to tissues near the site of operation. All these factors increase the recovery time for patients.
For seniors, this can be an issue due to age-related health conditions. And in younger, working-age-group adults, it puts them out of work for a long time. Further, there are innumerable patients who are not fit for surgery due to pre-existing medical conditions. Their orthopedic condition must be treated through other means, which adds to their suffering.
Minimally invasive treatments started emerging overtime to overcome these challenges and constraints.
Today, endoscopic procedures are conducted to remove diseased organs, to remove parts of an organ affected by a tumor or a disease, and to remove tissue samples for diagnosis (the procedure is called a biopsy).
The skeletomuscular system is vulnerable to various ailments, in addition to mechanical wear and tear that happens over time. Treatment options for these ailments include rest, exercise, physiotherapy, oral or topical medication, appliances or fixtures (splints, casts, implants), and finally surgery. Till a few decades back, open surgery was the only alternative to fix major, orthopedic conditions. However, in recent years, minimally invasive surgery has become popular across different branches of medicine that concern different body systems. These procedures are also called endoscopic, laparoscopic, or keyhole surgeries. These names are used interchangeably as the concept in them is the same.
Why is Keyhole Surgery Required?
In open surgery, wide incisions are made in order to access the area to be operated on. The patient is given anesthesia and must be hospitalized for a week or more for close monitoring. There is bleeding during the procedure with mild trauma or injury to tissues near the site of operation. All these factors increase the recovery time for patients.
For seniors, this can be an issue due to age-related health conditions. And in younger, working-age-group adults, it puts them out of work for a long time. Further, there are innumerable patients who are not fit for surgery due to pre-existing medical conditions. Their orthopedic condition must be treated through other means, which adds to their suffering.
Minimally invasive treatments started emerging overtime to overcome these challenges and constraints.
Today, endoscopic procedures are conducted to remove diseased organs, to remove parts of an organ affected by a tumor or a disease, and to remove tissue samples for diagnosis (the procedure is called a biopsy).
Read also: Reasons for Hip Replacement Surgery
As the name implies, a keyhole-sized incision is made in the concerned area, and a long, thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, fitted with a camera at one end, is pushed gently to the site of surgery. A thin wire relays the images from the camera onto a monitor screen kept in front of the surgeons. The huge image makes it easy for the surgeon to plan out the procedure.
In the same incision, another endoscope fitted with surgical instruments is pushed in parallel to the first one. Modern-day endoscopes combine both camera and surgical instruments in the same tube. By having a view of the image on the screen, the surgeons are guided to make precise maneuvers and in the process achieve better outcomes.
The procedure is conducted under general anesthesia. Once the procedure is over, all the endoscopes are removed and the incision is stitched up neatly. The doctor will advise the patient on do’s and don’ts for the next 2 weeks as well as how to care for the wound.
Orthopedics uses laparoscopic surgery to treat conditions in bone joints (the procedure is then called arthroscopy) to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, to repair pelvic bone fractures, and to treat rotator cuff injury in the shoulder. It is also used to address knee pain caused by osteoarthritis and repair of cartilage, ligaments, and tendons in the limbs.
Knee repair: Loose tissue, fragments, or pieces of bone and cartilage present in the knee can be removed and the area washed clean
Osteoarthritis: Any rough surface that is causing inflammation in the knee or any other joint can be made smoother
Wear and tear issues: Damage to cartilage and meniscus can be repaired by reducing the roughness and friction
There is reduced blood loss due to smaller incisions. This reduces the necessity of blood transfusions and associated complications.
In addition to reduced infection, other complications of open surgery such as hernia and cellulitis (infection of skin and tissues below the skin caused by bacteria) can be avoided through keyhole surgery.
How is Keyhole Surgery Performed?
As the name implies, a keyhole-sized incision is made in the concerned area, and a long, thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, fitted with a camera at one end, is pushed gently to the site of surgery. A thin wire relays the images from the camera onto a monitor screen kept in front of the surgeons. The huge image makes it easy for the surgeon to plan out the procedure.
In the same incision, another endoscope fitted with surgical instruments is pushed in parallel to the first one. Modern-day endoscopes combine both camera and surgical instruments in the same tube. By having a view of the image on the screen, the surgeons are guided to make precise maneuvers and in the process achieve better outcomes.
The procedure is conducted under general anesthesia. Once the procedure is over, all the endoscopes are removed and the incision is stitched up neatly. The doctor will advise the patient on do’s and don’ts for the next 2 weeks as well as how to care for the wound.
Keyhole Surgery and Orthopedics
Orthopedics uses laparoscopic surgery to treat conditions in bone joints (the procedure is then called arthroscopy) to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, to repair pelvic bone fractures, and to treat rotator cuff injury in the shoulder. It is also used to address knee pain caused by osteoarthritis and repair of cartilage, ligaments, and tendons in the limbs.
Knee repair: Loose tissue, fragments, or pieces of bone and cartilage present in the knee can be removed and the area washed clean
Osteoarthritis: Any rough surface that is causing inflammation in the knee or any other joint can be made smoother
Wear and tear issues: Damage to cartilage and meniscus can be repaired by reducing the roughness and friction
Benefits of Keyhole Surgery Over Open Surgery
There is reduced blood loss due to smaller incisions. This reduces the necessity of blood transfusions and associated complications.
- Smaller incisions mean there is reduced trauma to surrounding muscles and tissues.
- Because of the above, there is less pain and recovery is also fast now.
- Quicker recovery implies a reduced risk of pneumonia, bone loss, and muscle atrophy.
- A smaller incision automatically implies smaller scars.
- Lesser pain and trauma automatically imply reduced usage of painkillers and other medications.
- For the internal organs, there is no exposure to external contamination as with open surgery. So the chances of infection are much lesser now.
In addition to reduced infection, other complications of open surgery such as hernia and cellulitis (infection of skin and tissues below the skin caused by bacteria) can be avoided through keyhole surgery.
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