Treatments
See what is usually treated there, and how. Most problems start with non-surgical care.
The most injured joint in sport, and the core of Dr. Deb’s arthroscopic practice.
The most mobile joint in the body, so it dislocates, tears and stiffens more easily.
Overuse, falls and heavy lifting are the usual causes.
Rolled ankles are common. Pain or giving way that lasts deserves a proper look.
Wear and tear, injury and fractures, more often with age.
Broken bones heal well when they are lined up and protected correctly.
Partial ligament tears, many meniscal tears, tendon problems and stable fractures often recover well with the right plan.
Sport
Inject
Protect
Rebuild
Keyhole surgery through cuts usually under a centimetre, or open reconstruction when the injury needs it.
The torn anterior cruciate ligament is replaced with a tendon graft passed through small bone tunnels, to make the knee stable for pivoting and sport again.
Usually for knees that give way after an ACL tear, especially in active people.
Rebuilds the posterior cruciate ligament, which stops the shin bone sliding backwards under the thigh bone.
Usually for high-grade or combined PCL injuries that leave the knee unstable.
A torn meniscus is stitched so it can heal. When repair isn’t possible, only the unstable fragment is trimmed.
Usually for locking, catching or lasting pain from a tear. Repair is preferred whenever the tear allows it.
Scar tissue and a tight capsule inside the knee are released to recover lost bending or straightening.
Usually for stiffness after injury or surgery that physiotherapy hasn’t fixed.
The torn labrum and capsule are reattached to the socket rim with small anchors, so the shoulder stops slipping out.
Usually for recurrent shoulder dislocation or instability.
Torn rotator cuff tendons are reattached to the bone to restore strength and ease pain.
Usually for symptomatic tears, particularly after an injury or when weakness persists.
The thickened, tight capsule of a frozen shoulder is released to give back movement.
Usually for frozen shoulder that hasn’t improved with exercises and other non-surgical care.
Loose fragments of bone or cartilage floating in the joint are taken out through the arthroscope.
Usually for catching, locking or pain caused by those fragments.
Reconstructs the ligaments on the inner side (MCL) or the outer-back corner (PLC) of the knee, often injured together with the cruciates.
Usually for high-grade or multi-ligament injuries with ongoing instability.
Stabilises a kneecap that keeps dislocating, commonly by reconstructing the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL).
Usually for recurrent kneecap dislocation.
Repair of ruptured tendons and muscles, such as the distal biceps, quadriceps, patellar or Achilles tendon.
Usually for complete ruptures, or tears unlikely to heal well on their own.
The broken bone is lined up and held with plates, screws, nails or wires while it heals.
Usually for displaced, unstable or joint-involving fractures.
Worn joint surfaces are replaced with an implant to relieve pain and restore movement.
Usually for advanced arthritis when non-surgical treatment no longer controls the pain.
With or without an operation, recovery runs in phases, coordinated with your physiotherapist.
Emergency: bone through the skin, a cold or pale limb, an obviously deformed joint, or a serious fall or road accident. Go to the nearest emergency department now.
Questions
Straight answers to what patients ask before deciding on treatment.
No. Many ligament, meniscus, tendon and fracture problems recover well with the right non-surgical plan: rest and protection, bracing or plaster, injections where indicated, and guided rehabilitation. Surgery is advised only when it is the better option for your injury and your goals.
Arthroscopy is keyhole surgery: a thin camera and fine instruments go into the joint through cuts usually under a centimetre. Many arthroscopic procedures are done as day-care or short-stay surgery. Your exact stay depends on the procedure and is confirmed before the operation.
Most people return to full sport around 9 to 12 months after surgery. The decision is based on strength, balance and movement tests passed during rehabilitation, not on the calendar alone.
Not necessarily. Your history and a careful examination come first, and imaging is ordered only if it will change the plan. If you already have X-rays or an MRI, bring the films or CD and the report.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can help selected tendon and joint conditions, but it is not suitable for everyone. Whether it is worth trying is decided after examination, alongside other options.
He is an empanelled surgeon at ILS Hospitals (Dum Dum), Phoenix Medical Centre (Dum Dum), Tulip Nursing Home (Dum Dum), Techno India DAMA Hospital (Chingrighata) and Health Point Multispeciality Hospital (Lansdowne).