Arthroscopy

Abstract

Having chosen the site for the insertion of the arthroscope the investigator makes a skin incision with a pointed scalpel. The incision should always be on the small side; if it is large in relation to the diameter of the outer tube of the instrument, gas is likely to escape when inflating the knee joint with carbon dioxide. This renders the arthroscopy difficult or even impossible. When this “inadequately sized” incision has been made, the sharp trocar is inserted into the outer tube of the instrument. These components have to be interlocked. If the lateral approach is used, the investigator then inserts the instrument in a radial direction towards the centre of the knee joint parallel to the articular surface of the tibia.