Saturday 26 September 2015

Knee arthroscopy: positioning and draping

Knee arthroscopy: positioning and draping

In knee arthroscopy (often referred to as a type of keyhole surgery), the surgeon needs the patient to be placed in a very specific way. The patient is positioned supine (face up) on the table. The injured knee must be in a leg holder and the foot of the table is lowered. The leg holder is placed around the thigh, allowing the surgeon to move the leg to valgus and varus (from one side to another) during the intervention. 



The patient´s extremity has to be prepared and draped. Draping involves using impervious stockinet and a standard knee arthroscopy drape with a waterproof surface and a fluid pouch.  



The surgeon needs an inflow fluid system to expand the knee, which makes it easier for the surgeon to see inside the joint. Therefore the sheath of the arthroscope has an inflow (for the fluid) and an outflow (for the suction).


The surgeon accesses the knee joint through two small incisions.  By the anterolateral portal, the surgeon introduces the arthroscope into the knee joint and begins the inspection of the joint.  The arthrocope is connected to a camera to allow the image to be viewed by the medical team (and the patient) on flat screen TV monitors. Through the other incision, the surgeon introduces specific instruments: probe hook, graspers, cutting grasper, motorised shaver, etc.





Dr. Enrique Galindo Andújar does this type of surgery with local anesthetic (only anesthetizing the knee) in several private Hospitals in Madrid, ensuring the best possible patient care with latest optimum conditions to achieve successful knee surgery. 

Elena Miguel Poza - Nurse, nursing coordinator & trainer - Enfermera coordinadora y profesora de enfermería - IMTRA Instituto Madrileño de Traumatologia (Madrid Spain)
Tel: (0034) 915545405 Email: elena@imtra.es Web site in English: http://www.imtra.eu Web site in Spanish: www.imtra.biz