Arthoscopic Surgery
Get the relief you're seeking for joint issues with minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery from the orthopedic surgeons at Reid Health Comprehensive Bone & Joint Center.
What is arthroscopic surgery?
Injury, wear and tear, and disease can all damage joints. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that shows bone, ligaments, and cartilage, giving your orthopedic surgeon a complete view of your joints, so they can repair or replace damaged areas without major surgery.
During arthroscopic surgery, your orthopedic surgeon inserts a thin, flexible tube with a tiny video camera and a fiber optic lighting system — an arthroscope — through a tiny incision in your joint. This provides clear, real-time video of the issue, allowing your surgeon to use special tools to perform your procedure with minimal cutting.
Conditions treated with arthroscopy
Arthroscopy can be used on all joints. Orthopedic specialists typically recommend it if more conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, rest, ice, and medications, no longer help your pain.
Arthroscopy can diagnose and treat problems in the:
The name of the procedure depends on the joint your surgeon examines. For example, a procedure looking at the knee is called a knee arthroscopy or knee scope.
Types of arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopic surgery can repair torn ligaments and tendons. Surgeons can also perform arthroscopy to correct joint issues that might otherwise require a total joint replacement.
Common procedures Reid Health’s orthopedic surgeons perform include:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair: Healthy tendons or ligaments from the leg replace the knee’s damaged ACL.
- Hip arthroscopy: This can address hip pain caused by bone spurs or damaged soft tissues.
- Rotator cuff repair: Torn shoulder tendons and muscles get anchored to bone. This allows renewed range of motion without pain.
- Torn meniscus repair: Repairing this damaged cartilage in your knee can reduce pain and help your knee feel more comfortable and stable.
Benefits of arthroscopic surgery
Traditional, open surgery requires large incisions that leave scars. Arthroscopic surgery doesn’t. Instead, your arthroscopic procedure takes place through incisions the size of a buttonhole. This small incision leads to reduced scars and shorter recovery times. In fact, many arthroscopic surgeries take place on an outpatient basis, which means recovery from ACL repair, rotator cuff repair, and knee surgery can often take place at home.