What is arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a surgery used to diagnose and often treat disorders, diseases or problems due to joint damage. Arthroscopy literally means visual examination of the joint . Most often, arthroscopy is the procedure performed in an outpatient environment by an orthopedic physician.

Arthroscopy has been common since the 1960s, but has constantly gained popularity with the development of better tools and progress of techniques. Arthroscopy is most often done on the knee, but also on the shoulder to repair the torn rotator cuffs and wrists to alleviate the compression of the carpal tunnel. Arthroscopy can be performed on any joint, as determined by a doctor or surgeon. Whether it is general or locals will depend on the specific arthroscopic procedure. The procedure itself includes small incisions, often about ¼ inch (0.635 cm) in length and usually on the bottle of the affected joint, although larger cuts may be necessary for larger joints. Less invasive surgery than traditional "open" surgery, arthroscopy has a high míru success. However, there are situations in which the arthroscopic procedure does not contribute to the repair of the joint problem and open surgery is required.

The most common complications associated with arthroscopy, although listed as rare, are side effects on anesthetic, blood clots and damage to the surrounding nerves and blood vessels. Cutting infections are more common complications, but can be prevented by proper post-procedural care. Depending on the arthroscopic procedure, stitches may be required and a dressing will be used for the cut in both directions. In general, all stitches and bandages will be completely removed within a few days.

Because arthroscopy is less invasive gradually open surgery, recovery time is often accelerated along with physical therapy. Many professional athletes underwent arthroscopy and returned to their sport in a sensible, not a short time. The individual results will vary and arepartly dependent on the physical condition before the procedure, the scope of the disease or injury and individual medical history. The advantages of the arthroscopic procedure are best determined on an individual basis by a specialist or attending physician.