So, what is an arthroscapy and why is Shaun's knee having one?? Despite the fact that making this section makes me feel very ill, I shall pull through and try to answer these questions...
What has this got to do with the price of fish? I very much doubt that the health of Sean's knee has anything to do with the trade of aquatic animals (even though this does rase an interesting question:"What if Shaun's knee was a fish?")...Anyhoo, we all thought it very strange when, on Monday the 21/7/03, Shaun limped on with crutches. He then informed us that it wasn't his usual gag, he really had hurt his knee, "Whilst trying to make you people laugh." Awwwww! As no more explination was given, we could do naugh but sit back and pity Shaun's knee...And perhaps the rest of him...
As I am nice, and I have a kind heart, I hereby proclaim that 21/7 will forever be "Arthroscapy sympathy day". Do you support this worthy cause?!? If so, either put the following image on your website or print it out and eat it...
To put this on your website, copy and
paste the following code
To print it out and eat it, click here for the image by itself.
Anyhoo, onto what an arthroscapy is...
Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure orthopaedic surgeons use to visualize, diagnose and treat problems inside a joint. It involves placing some small incisions around the joint to be examined, and a small camera is inserted, as well as other surgical instruments.
This enables your surgeon to view the inside of your joint on a television screen, rather than on a less-detailed x-ray, or a more invasive operation. It also enables the surgeon to do some smaller-type procedures. For a knee this can involve:
Removal of loose bodies
Yick. Not very plesant...An arthroscopic procedure is less invasive the an "open" operation. It generally allows for quicker recovery time in hospital, and a lot of patients go home several hours afterwards. Recovery time is, of course, related to the complexity of an individual patient's problem. There is also less scarring from the procedure than from a bigger operation, due to the small size of the initial incisions...
BUT
As with any operation there are potential risks involved in an arthroscopy. These include the general risks of surgery, such as reactions to the anaesthetic used (please inform your doctor of any previous problems with anaesthetics), excessive bleeding, clots in the leg veins and lungs, heart attacks or strokes, and infection (such as pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or infection of the joint itself). More specific complications to this type of surgery include temporary or permanent nerve and muscle injury, or skin death, associated with use of a tourniquet on the limb, damage to structures inside the joint, and breakage of instruments inside the joint (which could then lead to an "open" procedure). Occasionally symptoms persist even after treatment, or an abnormal pain response occurs (where pain worsens)...
POOR MR. MICALLEF'S KNEE...Oh, yes, and the rest of him too...
Luckily for fans of Shaun's knees, it is not unusual for patients to go back to work or school or resume daily activities within a few days, so no Micallef Tonight will be missed. During his time in hospital, he will have injections to decrease the chance of clots forming in his legs, as well as standard pain relief and any other treatment he may need... Although the puncture wounds are small and pain in the joint that underwent arthroscopy is minimal, it takes several weeks for the joint to maximally recover. Specific exercises or a rehabilitation program may be prescribed to speed the recovery and protect future joint function. Usually there is a follow-up appointment at the outpatient clinic approximately 6 weeks from the date of the operation. The doctor will assess the speed of the recovery, and tell whoever whether any further treatment or follow-up is needed.
**RUNS FOR CHUCK BUCKET**...YuckYuckYuckYuckYuckYuck I feel sick...All the pukesomeinteresting information on this site about arthroscapy cam from some random hospital from somewhere's site. I think I'm going to lie down for a while.
This just in: After spending a lunchtime using the school computers and watching the next episode of Micallef Tonight, we have come up with these additional facts:
The operation allegedly occured on Shaun's birthday
Shaun collects spoons
The accident occured during a sketch, "Plain clothes firemen", which was aired two weeks later on the 29/7/03
It is not a good idea to be thinking about Shaun and his knee during assembly as it completely distracts you and you become very disorientated when it is time to leave
It is also not a good idea to imitate Shaun walking with his walking stick for over two minutes as it causes your knee to cramp rather badly, which reminds you of the pain his poor knee must be in and wail in grief at innapropriate moments (i.e. Entering mathematics classroom)
Armed with this knowledge, we will leave you with a quite innapropriate copy of what Shaun says:
See you in the monkeyhouse Australia*
*The term australia in this instance has also been streatched to cover the rest of life in general in this plane of existance. Please reveiw the safety procedures, enjoy our in-flight snacks. Thankyou for flying Dimensionplane.
