Arthroscopy is a procedure that is used to diagnose and treat joint problems. Through a small incision the size of a buttonhole, a surgeon inserts a narrow tube connected to a fiber-optic video camera. A high-definition video monitor receives the view from inside your joint.
The surgeon can see inside your joint using arthroscopy without making a large incision. During arthroscopy, doctors can even repair some types of joint damage with a very thin surgical instrument called arthroscope inserted through additional small incisions.
Arthroscopic surgery first gained popularity in the treatment of high-profile athletes' sports injuries, such as meniscus tears in basketball players, severe cases of runner's knee in marathoners, or rotator cuff tears in football players or baseball pitchers.
Arthroscopy is now used to treat people who are not athletes. Around 80% of orthopaedic surgeons use arthroscopy on their patients. Orthopaedist value arthroscopy because it is less invasive on the patient's body than open surgery and requires less recovery time.
On an Average it will take around one hour to perform the arthroscopic surgery. Most patients go to home the same day. Full recovery of the joint may take a few weeks.
