What types of knee problems can be helped by having knee arthroscopy?
• Meniscal repair or meniscectomy. There are two menisci (me-NIS-keye) in the knee that separate the tibia and femur. The tibia is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. The femur is the thigh bone. The oval-shaped menisci act as shock absorbers and also keep the knee from moving too much. The menisci can stretch or tear. Stretching or tearing can happen especially when the knee is extended at the same time as it is turning. During a meniscal (me-NIS-kl) repair or meniscectomy (men-ih-SEK-toh-mee), menisci can be repaired, or torn pieces can be removed. • Patellar debridement. The patella (pah-TEL-ah) is the flat, triangular bone in the front of the knee joint. It is also called the knee cap. The back of the patella is coated with smooth cartilage (KAHR-ti-lij) (tissue) that helps it glide as your knee bends. The patella can be fractured (broken) or get a disease, such as arthritis that can cause the patella cartilage to soften or deform. Patellar (pah-TEL-er) debridement (da-BR
