The Greek words “arthro” and “skopein” denote “joint” and “scope,” respectively. The word means “to look inside the joint.”

Arthroscopy is used for the following procedures:

Rotator cuff repair – In the knee or shoulder, torn cartilage (meniscus) is repaired or resected.

Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in the knee

Synovium is removed from the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or ankle – The carpal tunnel in the wrist is opened.

Ligament reattachment – Loose bone or cartilage damage repair from the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or ankle

Even though arthroscopic surgery is less invasive in terms of recovery than open surgery, it still requires anaesthetics and specialized equipment in a hospital operating theatre or outpatient surgical suite. You will be given a general, spinal depending on the joint or suspected condition.

A small indentation will be made to implant the arthroscope (about the size of a buttonhole). To see additional parts of the joint or implant other instruments, different incisions may be required.

During corrective surgery, specific tools are delivered into the joint through accessory incisions. Initially, arthroscopy was solely used to plan open surgery as a diagnostic tool. Arthroscopy techniques may now be utilised to treat a wide spectrum of disorders because of the advancement of better instruments and surgical procedures.

After surgery, the tiny incisions will be wrapped with a bandage. You will be moved to a recovery room from the operating room. Many people just need a tiny dose of pain medicine.

Before being discharged, you will be given advice on how to care for your incisions, which activities to avoid, and which exercises to do to aid your recovery. During your follow-up visit, the surgeon will examine your incisions, remove any sutures if required, and review your rehabilitation plan.

The severity of your problem will influence the amount of surgery and recovery time required. Occasionally, during arthroscopy, the surgeon will discover that the damage or condition cannot be successfully addressed by arthroscopy alone. More extensive open surgery may be performed while you are still sedated, or after you have discussed the findings with your physician.

People may prefer it to other surgical options since arthroscopy typically involves:

• Tissue injury is decreased – healing time is shortened – fewer stitches are used

• Because the incisions are smaller, there is less pain and a lower risk of infection after the procedure.

Arthroscopy, on the other hand, is not suitable for all patients. There is limited evidence that knee arthroscopy can help people with osteoarthritis or degenerative diseases.

Keep an open mind and ask as many questions as you need to understand why your doctor advises you to avoid arthroscopic surgery.

Arthroscopic surgery has progressed from a desirable alternative to open surgery to the standard of therapy for many types of joint problems. Arthroscopy isn’t a one-size-fits-all technique, though.