Loose Bodies/Spurs Surgery (Knee)

Surgical management is indicated if patients fail nonoperative treatment, the loose bodies are unstable, or if these lesions are causing mechanical symptoms leading to decreased function and pain.  If the problem only involves loose bodies, arthroscopic surgery is utilized to directly visualize the inside of the joint and remove these fragments.  Additional measures to smooth out roughened edges of the cartilage may be performed as needed.  Bone spurs are usually seen as a component of arthritis in the knee and are usually addressed as part of total knee replacement surgery.