ARTHROSCOPY
An Opportunity For Minimally Invasive Procedures
Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that allows a surgeon to examine and treat a joint using an arthroscope, a thin tube with a camera and light source.
Arthroscopy is often used on the knee, but can also be performed on the ankle, hip, shoulder, wrist, or elbow. It can help diagnose the cause of pain, swelling, or stiffness in a joint, or treat conditions like torn ligaments or tendons, loose cartilage or bone, and some diseases.
Why Your Orthopedic Will Use Arthroscopy
Providers use arthroscopy to diagnose and treat a range of joint, tendon and ligament problems, such as:
- Knee pain, instability and other injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and meniscal tears.
- Torn ligaments, cartilage and tendons.
- Rotator cuff tears, dislocated shoulder, frozen shoulder and shoulder impingement.
- Arthritis, including foot and ankle arthritis
- Wrist pain, including carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cysts and wrist arthritis.
Who needs arthroscopy?
Your healthcare provider may recommend an arthroscopic procedure if you have injured or damaged your meniscus, cartilage, tendons and/or ligaments. Arthroscopy may be an option if you don’t get relief from nonsurgical treatments such as:
- Braces or splints
- Medications and steroid injections
- Physical therapy
- Rest