Knee Arthroscopy in Pearland, TX

What Is Knee Arthroscopy?

A knee arthroscopy uses a tiny camera called an arthroscope, inserted through a small incision to give your surgeon a clear, detailed view inside your knee joint on a screen. If the problem can be fixed during the same procedure, surgeons use small surgical instruments through one or two additional incisions to make the repair.

Common Conditions Treated with Knee Arthroscopy

Arthroscopic knee surgery can address a wide range of knee problems. Here are the conditions Dr. Burke treats most often with this approach.

Meniscus Tears

The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that cushions your knee joint. Tears can happen from a sports injury, a sudden twist, or just normal wear over time. Meniscus repair through arthroscopy is one of the most common procedures we perform.

Depending on the tear, Dr. Burke either repairs the damaged cartilage or trims away the torn portion to relieve pain and restore function.

ACL and Ligament Injuries

A torn ACL or other knee ligament can make the joint feel unstable and unreliable. Arthroscopy allows Dr. Burke to reconstruct or repair the damaged ligament through small incisions, aiming to get you back on your feet with a more stable knee.

Cartilage Damage

The smooth cartilage covering the ends of your bones can wear down or get damaged from injury. Loose or damaged cartilage fragments can catch in the joint and cause pain, swelling, and locking. Arthroscopy removes or smooths out that damage to help the joint move more freely.

Loose Bodies

Small pieces of bone or cartilage can break off and float around inside your knee. These loose bodies catch between the moving parts of the joint and cause sharp pain, swelling, or your knee locking up. Arthroscopy lets Dr. Burke find and remove them.

Synovitis

The lining of your knee joint can become inflamed and swollen. When that inflammation doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, arthroscopy can remove the irritated tissue and reduce inflammation.

Patellar Problems

If your kneecap isn’t tracking properly or the cartilage on its underside is damaged, it can cause pain at the front of the knee. Arthroscopy can correct the alignment or smooth out damaged cartilage to reduce the grinding and discomfort.

How Dr. Burke Performs Knee Arthroscopy

The procedure is straightforward. Dr. Burke performs knee arthroscopy, a minimally invasive, camera-guided procedure, on an outpatient basis, so you head home the same day.

You’ll receive anesthesia to keep you comfortable throughout. Dr. Burke makes two or three small incisions, each about the size of a buttonhole or roughly a centimeter long. He inserts the arthroscope through one incision and any surgical instruments through the others.

The camera sends a live feed to a screen so Dr. Burke can see exactly what’s going on inside your knee. If something needs fixing, he takes care of it right there in the same session. The whole procedure is usually done in 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of the repair.

After that, the small incisions get a stitch or two and are bandaged up. You’ll spend some time in recovery, and then you’re headed home with a clear rundown of what to do next.

Recovering from Knee Arthroscopy

Getting back on your feet after arthroscopy is a lot faster than recovering from open knee surgery. How fast depends on what was actually done inside the joint.

If it was something straightforward like cleaning out loose bodies or trimming a torn meniscus, most people are up and walking within a few days with minimal discomfort. Some swelling and soreness in the first week is totally normal. Ice, keeping the leg elevated, and basic over-the-counter pain meds usually do the trick.

If the work was more involved, like a meniscus repair or ligament reconstruction, the recovery road is longer. You’ll probably be on crutches for a few weeks and working with a physical therapist to get your strength and range of motion back.

Full recovery from a meniscus repair typically takes a few months. Ligament reconstruction can take six months or more before a return to full activity. However, recovery timelines vary significantly by patient and procedure type. Dr. Burke gives you a recovery plan tailored to your specific procedure. He monitors your progress and adjusts the plan as needed.

When Should You Consider Knee Arthroscopy?

Dr. Burke doesn’t recommend arthroscopy right away. He’ll usually have you try the non-surgical route first. Rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and injections can address many knee problems without ever going into the operating room.

But when those options stop doing the job, or when imaging shows something structural that won’t heal on its own, arthroscopy starts making sense. It’s worth thinking about when:

• Knee pain won’t go away no matter what else you’ve tried
• Your knee keeps locking up, catching, or giving out on you
• Swelling keeps coming back, and nobody can tell you why
• An MRI shows a torn meniscus, cartilage damage, or loose bodies floating around
• Your knee is the one thing holding you back from staying active

If you’ve been searching for knee arthroscopy near me, Dr. Burke can evaluate your situation and tell you whether arthroscopy is the right call.

Risks and Considerations

Knee arthroscopy is generally considered a low-risk procedure, but like any surgery, it comes with some risks. Infection, blood clots, stiffness, and swelling are all possibilities, though they’re uncommon.

There’s also a chance that the damage inside the knee is more extensive than imaging suggested. In those cases, Dr. Burke discusses additional options with you after the procedure.

Having an experienced surgeon makes a real difference in outcomes. Dr. Burke has been performing orthopedic procedures for 35+ years, and that experience shows in how smoothly the procedure goes and how well patients recover.

Why Choose Dr. Burke Orthopedics for Knee Arthroscopy in Pearland, TX?

Dr. Burke has spent over 35 years diagnosing and treating different orthopedic conditions. He’s board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and holds a Certificate in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. Arthroscopic knee procedures are something he’s performed thousands of times over his career.

What sets him apart is how he approaches each case. When surgery is the right move, he explains exactly what’s going on inside your knee, what he plans to do about it, and what recovery looks like for your specific situation.

We offer same-day and next-day appointments because a knee that’s not cooperating shouldn’t have to wait weeks for answers. The sooner you get it evaluated, the sooner you can get back to moving comfortably.