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Over the years, scientists worldwide have developed progressively less invasive ways to look inside the body.
Now, a modern device called a NanoScope™ allows us to peer inside joints with precision, diagnosing and treating a range of conditions while helping patients better understand their bodies, make informed decisions, and prepare for recovery.
Sometimes called needle arthroscopy, nano arthroscopy is performed with a needle-like instrument that has a high-tech camera at the tip. It can be used in the office, without the need for surgery. After making a tiny incision in the skin, the doctor inserts the device, often with local anesthesia, to examine the joint. It is also revolutionizing how some patients receive treatment for joint conditions like cartilage damage and arthritis.
The NanoScope™ is just 2 millimeters in diameter, much smaller than the previous arthroscope, which could be up to twice the size. As minimally invasive techniques progress, I’m seeing many benefits for the patients in my practice, including quicker recovery and better education so they really understand what’s going on inside their joints.
The NanoScope™ has changed our practice in the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, helping patients get better outcomes with less pain in recovery.
Better imaging with the NanoScope™.
When it comes to understanding patients’ joint conditions, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is often a good way to investigate. The MRI uses magnets and radio waves to produce images inside the body. It’s very effective, but it’s not perfect. X-rays and other imaging methods aren’t always 100% accurate, either.
Sometimes, imaging returns false-negative results that fail to show a patient’s condition. Some patients aren’t eligible to get an MRI due to body hardware, such as certain types of pacemakers or metal screws and pins that create image “artifacts”—bright spots in the MRI that can obscure the imaging.
Needle Arthroscopy offers another way to understand a patient’s anatomy when traditional imaging methods can’t show. More precise imaging enables us to provide tailored treatment options, so patients can get back to work and exercise sooner.
Minimally invasive treatment with less anesthesia.
When it comes to providing treatment, the nano arthroscope offers a minimally invasive procedure and less pain. The small scope avoids damaging nearby nerves and tissues, resulting in more comfortable treatment that requires less anesthesia. When we can opt for local anesthesia that numbs the joint rather than general anesthesia that puts patients to sleep, we can spare them side effects such as:
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Shivering
Based on my experience with the nano arthroscope, I suspect we will soon be able to perform more procedures without anesthesia. Along with fewer side effects, we’ve found that when patients are awake during procedures, we can help them understand what we’re doing and why, to better prepare them for recovery.
Easing fears and preparing for recovery.
The nano arthroscope has become an important tool to guide patients through the shared decision-making of developing a treatment plan. While the nano arthroscope doesn’t make patients’ anxieties magically disappear, it can help them have a better understanding of the “why” behind surgery.
Sometimes it’s difficult for patients to understand medical terms—showing them what’s happening in their body can give patients insights into what it means to have a tear in their meniscus or a cartilage injury.
For example, complicated procedures like cartilage restoration surgery can mean it’s as long as 8-10 months before patients have complete use of their knee. With the nano arthroscope, I can show the injury and help patients better understand why healing can take so long and require so much effort.
Nano arthroscopy is a practice-changing device but it’s not the solution for every case. Talk with your doctor about whether this technology is appropriate for your condition.
I’m excited about the potential for this device to make a real difference for patients, which is why I’ve been involved in the design implementations and innovations to develop it. We’re currently conducting clinical trials to learn more about our patients’ experiences with nano arthroscopy to quantify how much the device can reduce pain, recovery time, and need for pain medication.
