Arthroscopic Surgery

Knee or shoulder arthroscopy is a common procedure that orthopaedic surgeons use to examine and treat the inside of the joint. It involves an arthroscope, a thin fibre-optic telescope about the width of a pencil which is passed into the joint through a small incision. This is done under an anaesthetic. A camera is attached to the arthroscope, and a clear view of the inside of the joint can be seen on a video monitor. This allows your surgeon to examine all areas inside the joint, make a diagnosis, and depending on the diagnosis treat a number of abnormalities during the same procedure. Arthroscopic surgery has become a routine procedure. The incisions are much smaller which assists faster healing and lowers the risk of complications.