Arthroscopic

Arthroscopy is a procedure for diagnosing and treating joint problems. A surgeon inserts a narrow tube attached to a fiber-optic video camera through a small incision — about the size of a buttonhole. The view inside your joint is transmitted to a high-definition video monitor. Arthroscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your joint without making a large incision. Surgeons can even repair some types of joint damage during arthroscopy, with pencil-thin surgical instruments inserted through additional small incisions. Why it's done? Doctors use arthroscopy to help diagnose and treat a variety of joint conditions, most commonly those affecting the: Knee Shoulder Elbow Ankle Hip Wrist Diagnostic procedures Doctors often turn to arthroscopy if X-rays and other imaging studies have left some diagnostic questions unanswered. Surgical procedures Conditions treated with arthroscopy include: Loose bone fragments Damaged or torn cartilage Inflamed joint linings Torn ligaments Scarring within joints.