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HomeSummaryReview of the conditionConsidering surgeryPreparing for surgeryPreparation Timing Costs Surgical team Finding an experienced surgeon Facilities About the procedureRecovering from surgeryRehabilitationConclusion

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Arthroscopy in Children and Teenagers (Ages 8 to 18)

Edited By: Gregory A. Schmale, M.D.
Last updated Friday, July 22, 2005

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Preparing for surgery

What type of preparation needs to take place before minimally-invasive surgery for a torn meniscus in athletic children for meniscal tears in the knee of adolescents and children?

Prior to arthroscopy for meniscal tears, for patients who do not have a locked knee, an exercise program to improve hamstring and quadriceps strength is recommended. This program will make rehabilitation easier for the patient.

What about the timing of minimally-invasive surgery for a torn meniscus in athletic children for meniscal tears in the knee of adolescents and children? How long can it be safely delayed?

How can the costs of minimally-invasive surgery for a torn meniscus in athletic children for meniscal tears in the knee of adolescents and children be anticipated?

The surgeon’s fee,
The hospital fee, and
The degree to which these should be covered by the patient’s insurance.

Who should perform minimally-invasive surgery for a torn meniscus in athletic children for meniscal tears in the knee of adolescents and children and where?

Arthroscopy for meniscal tears is a technically demanding procedure that should be performed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon in a medical center accustomed to performing arthroscopy at least several times a month. In the case of children, the surgeon should be well versed in performing the procedure on the skeletally immature body of a growing child with smaller joint spaces and pristine cartilage surfaces.

How can surgeons experienced in minimally-invasive surgery for a torn meniscus in athletic children for meniscal tears in the knee of adolescents and children be found?

It is unlikely that every community has an experienced pediatric orthopedic surgeon who performs many arthroscopies for meniscal tears each year or who have sports medicine specialists who routinely treat children. Surgeons specializing in arthroscopies for meniscal tears in children and adolescents may be located through university schools of medicine, county medical societies, or state orthopedic associations, such as the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). A regional children’s specialty hospital would also likely have surgeons experienced in these techniques.

In what type of facility is minimally-invasive surgery for a torn meniscus in athletic children for meniscal tears in the knee of adolescents and children usually done?

Arthroscopies for meniscal tears are usually performed in a major medical center that performs these procedures on a regular basis. These centers have surgical teams and facilities specially designed for this type of procedure. They also have nurses and therapists who are accustomed to assisting patients in their recovery.

Surgery for Meniscal tears in the knee of adolescents and children at the University of Washington, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Seattle, Washington

If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure in Seattle, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-987-3700 to make an appointment. Our clinical center is located in Seattle Washington, USA

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