what is a lateral femoral chondroplasty

[Mitidai]

I have oa iin both knees.  I had my left knee replaced in Janauary 06.  My right knee also has severe oa and began locking up.  My os thought it was another meniscus tear.  I had a knee scope yesterday and the nurse told me it wasn't a meniscus tear but that he did a lateral femoral chondroplasty.  She didn't quite know how to explain it and I don't see my os until the 27th of this month.

Is anyone familiar with this procedure and why my knee would have locked up from this?  Lateal femoral chondroplasty.

JAN Y

[shade]

Jan,

Found this info about chondroplasty......

When the articulating surface of a joint is damaged, it can become roughened or create loose bodies in the joint, resulting in local irritation and pain.

Chondroplasty literally means "reshaping the joint surface", and refers to a simple surgical procedure whereby the damaged joint surface is cut, scraped, lasered, or burred away in efforts to stimulate a healthy joint surface to heal over the reshaped defect. This chondroplasty procedure reduces local irritation by removing those loose or roughened areas, and restores a smooth articulating surface.

Good luck with your rehab....  ~shade

[Mitidai]

Thanks for the reply to my post Shade.  I was expecting to hear it was  a torn meniscus.  The nurse was a surgery center nurse not an orthopaedic nurse and didn't want to tell me wrong.  Knew I could find out on this site.

JAN Y

[knee deep in Goo]

The OS may have drilled into the femur on the lateral side as well.   They do this as well to form the fibercartlidge that protects the bones. 

oh Also .. if you want to click on my user info . I uploaded my chrondroplasty scope photos.

[Mitidai]

Thanks Knee Deep,

I think I'll ask my os to see my scopes when I go for followup.  I'm always learning about knees these days.

JAN Y