Arthroscopy is a procedure for diagnosing and treating joint problems. It is done by inserting a narrow tube attached to a fiber-optic video camera through a small incision — about the size of a buttonhole. The view inside the joint is transmitted to a high-definition video monitor. Arthroscopy allows the surgeon to see inside the joint without making a large incision. Surgeons can even repair some types of joint damage during arthroscopy, with pencil-thin surgical instruments inserted through additional small incisions.
Why it’s done
We do arthroscopy to help diagnose and treat a variety of joint conditions, most commonly those affecting the:
- Knee
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Hip
We often turn to arthroscopy if radiography and other imaging studies have left some diagnostic questions unanswered.
Conditions treated with arthroscopy include:
- Loose bone fragments
- Damaged or torn cartilage
- Inflamed joint linings
- Torn ligaments
- Scarring within joints