What is Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a technique that was developed to make smaller incision and access the inside of a joint with a camera and tools to fix internal problems with joints.  Originally, arthroscopes were essentially long cameras that the surgeon had to put his eye into while working to explore joints.  Now, we can fix almost any internal problem with joints with arthroscopy.   By using a camera and tools, we are able to clean joints using minimally invasive incisions that are never more than 10mm!

Schematic showing how a camera and a tool are used to remove part of the meniscus

What are the most common joints in which arthroscopy is performed?

Knee
Shoulder
Hip
Wrist
Ankle
Elbow
Subtalar Joint
Carpal Tunnel
1st Toe MTP Joint

Arthroscopic image of a normal ACL and PCL in a knee

How do you do fix things with arthroscopy?

In order to work inside the joint, we use multiple tools to "work".  Some devices are able to heat tissue and reduce inflammation by doing so.  We use basic tools like biters, shavers and burrs in order to remove damaged cartilage, remove bone spurs and clean tissue that is inflamed.  Below are some images of some of the tools used.

These tools are designed to bite, hold and grasp tissue.

Tools shown are used to bite tissue. We have different angled devices to help get into different parts of the joint

Picture of multiple coablation (wands) devices that can be used to remove unwanted tissue and cut through dense tissue

Using the burrs and shavers above, we can remove unwanted tissue and remove bone spurs