Arthroscopy - Types, Procedure, Recovery

Creator: Dr. Azzam Fayyad
Published: 2025-01-30 20:57:22

Updated On:January 30, 2025

What is Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a surgical technique that may be applied to a variety of treatments to diagnose and treat both acute and chronic joint disorders. It is not a single surgery.

Arthroscopic surgery is seen to be both frequent and essential, allowing for outpatient care in situations where hospitalization was previously required. For many joint issues, arthroscopic surgery is thought to be the standard of therapy and a crucial component of orthopaedic resident training.

An arthroscope is used to view the region to be operated on without the surgeon having to physically see it. It feeds real-time images to a display. Because just a buttonhole-sized incision is needed, arthroscopic surgeries are less difficult and dangerous than open procedures. In addition, arthroscopy instruments are thinner and smaller than the scalpels and other surgical instruments used in open surgery.

Arthroscopy Types

Arthroscopy allows surgeons to view joints without requiring extensive incisions. Types of arthroscopy include arthroscopies of the elbow, ankle and foot, wrist and hand, hip, knee, and shoulders.

What is an Arthroscopy used for?

Practitioners utilize arthroscopy to identify and address a variety of joint, ligament, and tendon issues, including:

Knee discomfort, instability, and other problems such as meniscal tears and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.
Ripped cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
Tears in the rotator cuff, dislocated shoulder, frozen shoulder, and impingement of the shoulder.
Arthritis, particularly arthritis in the feet and ankles
Discomfort in the wrist, encompassing ganglion cysts, wrist arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Arthroscopy Procedure

Before

The only thing you need to do before an arthroscopy is to avoid eating and drinking after midnight on the day of the surgery. Also, you need to inform your healthcare provider about any medication you are taking.

During

Usually, arthroscopy is an outpatient operation, meaning you return home the same day. Someone must drive you home and be with you for the remainder of the day as you will be under anaesthesia. The stages involved in arthroscopic operations change based on the issue. An hour is all that most operations take, while certain arthroscopies require more time.

An orthopaedic surgeon doing an arthroscopy would

Create two or three tiny incisions in the treatment region, each approximately the size of a buttonhole.
Make tiny incisions and insert the arthroscope and other microscopic surgical devices.
Examines ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and joints by looking at pictures that the arthroscope delivered to a monitor.
Use the pictures from the arthroscope to do surgery to address the issue or make a diagnosis.
Takes out the surgical tools and arthroscope.
Close the incisions.

After

A few hours following the surgery, you should be able to return home. It could be necessary for you to

Refrain from applying pressure or weight on the area
Ice the area and raise it, if possible.
Maintain a clean and covered incision.
Take NSAIDs for pain
Shower rather than soak in the bathtub until the wound heals.
Put on a brace or sling, if possible.

Arthroscopy Recovery

An arthroscopy typically results in a quicker recovery than an open procedure requiring several big incisions. Even so, it may take months to fully heal. Nonetheless, you might be able to go back to work in a few days, depending on the treatment.

Physical therapy (PT) may be suggested by your healthcare physician. Physical therapy (PT) helps strengthen muscles, hasten healing, and avert further injuries.

Arthroscopy Risks

Arthroscopy is a comparatively safe method. Possible issues consist of:

Allergic response to sedation
Clots of blood, such as DVTs (deep vein thrombosis)
Harm to the nerves or surrounding tissue
Extreme bleeding
Infections

References

Carr, A. J., Price, A. J., Glyn-Jones, S., & Rees, J. L. (2015). Advances in arthroscopy—indications and therapeutic applications. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 11(2), 77-85.

Colvin, A. C., Harrast, J., & Harner, C. (2012). Trends in hip arthroscopy. JBJS, 94(4), e23.

Felson, D. T. (2010). Arthroscopy as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 24(1), 47-50.

Jackson, R. W. (2010). A history of arthroscopy. Arthroscopy, 26(1), 91-103.

Katz, J. N., Brownlee, S. A., & Jones, M. H. (2014). The role of arthroscopy in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 28(1), 143-156.