Ankle Arthroscopy

Ankle arthroscopy is an ankle surgery that uses a tiny camera called an arthroscope and surgical tools to examine or repair the tissues inside or around your ankle. David Larson, DPM, a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon, specializes in Ankle Arthroscopy. After an exam, Dr. Larson can determine your risk and make treatment recommendations. To make an appointment, call the office in Mesa or Phoenix, Arizona, or request an appointment today.

What is Ankle Arthroscopy?

Ankle arthroscopy is an ankle surgery that uses a tiny camera called an arthroscope and surgical tools to examine or repair the tissues inside or around your ankle. The camera is called an arthroscope. The benefit of an ankle arthroscopy is that you’re your surgeon can locate problems and make repairs to your ankle without making larger cuts in the skin and tissue. This result is a faster recovery and less pain than with an open ankle surgery.

What Conditions is Ankle Arthroscopy Performed For? 

Ankle pain is the most common reason an ankle arthroscopy is performed. The procedure allows your doctor to discover the cause of pain and repair damage. Ankle arthroscopy is often used to repair: 

• Ligament tears
• Ankle impingement
• Scar tissue that needs removed
• Repairs related to ankle arthritis to improve movement and reduce pain
• Cartilage injuries
• Removing loose fragments of bone or cartilage, often referred to as an ankle debridement, where your surgeon can remove damaged cartilage, bone or other debris.  

What Happens During an Ankle Arthroscopy? 

During this ankle surgery, you will receive general anesthesia before this surgery so that you are asleep and unable to feel pain. You may also receive regional anesthesia, depending on why the surgery is being performed. Your leg and ankle area will be numbed to reduce pain as well.

David Larson, DPM will go through the following steps during an ankle arthroscopy: 

• Insert the arthroscope into your ankle through a small incision. The scope is then connected to a video monitor to allow your surgeon to view the inside of your ankle. 
• Inspect the tissue in the ankle, including cartilage, bones, tendons and ligaments. If there is a lot of damage, it may be necessary  to do an open surgery to gain better access to damaged bone and tissue. 
• Once our team inspects the tissue, he/she will make repairs to damaged tissue by making 1 to 3 more small incisions. Damaged tissue is removed and tears in muscle, tendons or cartilage are repaired. 
• All incisions are closed at the end of the surgery and covered with a dressing/bandage. Your surgeon will take pictures from the video to show you what they discovered and repaired. 

What is the Recovery Time for Ankle Arthroscopy/Ankle Surgery? 

Because ankle arthroscopy is minimally invasive compared to open ankle surgery, your recovery time will be faster. The small incisions made during surgery generally heal quickly. You may even be able to resume activity within days. However, if a lot of damage was discovered and repair needed, recovery could take longer – up to several weeks – and require at-home exercises and/or physical therapy. 

To learn more about Ankle Arthroscopy, make an appointment with David Larson, DPM, today. Call the nearest office to speak with a staff member or request an appointment online.