arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure where a surgeon uses an arthroscope – a thin, tube-like instrument with a camera and light source attached – to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint. The word itself comes from Greek roots: "arthro-" meaning joint, and "-scopy" meaning looking or examining.

Unlike traditional open surgery, which requires large incisions, arthroscopy utilizes several small incisions (typically less than ¼ inch). Through these incisions, the surgeon inserts the arthroscope to get a clear view of the inside of the joint on a monitor. Specialized instruments are then inserted through other small incisions to perform repairs – such as removing damaged cartilage, reconstructing ligaments, or smoothing rough surfaces.

Arthroscopy is commonly used for knees, shoulders, hips, elbows, and ankles. It's often employed in sports medicine to treat injuries like meniscus tears, ACL ruptures, rotator cuff tears, and impingement syndrome. However, it's also useful for diagnosing and treating arthritis, removing loose bodies within the joint, and addressing other conditions causing pain or limited mobility.

Because the incisions are small, arthroscopy generally results in less pain, faster recovery times, and smaller scars compared to traditional open surgery. While not every joint problem can be solved with arthroscopy, it's become a cornerstone of modern orthopedic care, offering patients a minimally invasive path toward healing and improved function. You might hear about athletes undergoing "arthroscopic repair" after an injury – that means they had this type of keyhole surgery to fix the damage inside their joint.