Joint Arthroscopy

What Is It and How It’s Done

Have you heard someone say they had arthroscopic surgery but didn’t really know what that meant? Or maybe you have been told that you need to have a joint “scoped” and are unsure what that entails. Well, read on to gain a little more insight into arthroscopic surgery.

I’m sure you have heard the term arthroscopic surgery, but do you really know what it is? Often times we hear it in relation to the knee, but arthroscopy can be performed on any joint. Many people have had multiple arthroscopic surgeries, which can make us think that it’s no big deal, but it is a surgical procedure. Sure it’s minimally invasive, but it still requires the use of anesthesia and incisions.

Arthroscopy basically means to look within a joint. Physicians use arthroscopy to diagnose as well as treat several joint conditions. Even with all the advanced imaging techniques we have today, occasionally the only way to really know what’s going on within a joint, is to look. Once the tiny camera is inside the joint a picture is projected on a screen for the physician to examine. Your physician will then be able to determine if further procedures need to be done, and if they can be done without the larger incisions of an “open” surgery. If it is determined that treatment can proceed in this fashion, special thin instruments are inserted through other small incisions to perform any necessary procedures.

Some of the common conditions for which arthroscopy is recommended include: loose bone or cartilage fragments, damaged or torn cartilage/menisci, impingement syndromes, torn ligaments/labrum, bone spurs, inflamed joint linings, and for treating scar tissue within a joint.

If you have been diagnosed with any of the above conditions and conservative treatments are not the answer, it may be worth a discussion with your medical provider regarding arthroscopy.
While it is a surgery, recovery time is generally much quicker after arthroscopy than traditional “open” surgical procedures.
Depending on your job activities, you may be able to return to work within just a few days. If you have further questions regarding your diagnosis and if arthroscopy might be right for you, TEAM may be able to help, depending on your benefit plan. Please call us today at (651) 642-0182 or (800) 634-7710.