What is "arthroscopy"

by 1977, from arthro- + -scopy.

n. the examination of the interior of a joint (such as the knee) using an arthroscope

n. a minimally invasive operation to repair a damaged joint; the surgeon examines the joint with an arthroscope while making repairs through a small incision

Arthroscopy (also called arthroscopic surgery) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope, an endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision. Arthroscopic procedures can be performed to evaluate or treat many orthopaedic conditions including torn cartilage (known by health professionals as "meniscus"), torn surface (articular) cartilage, ACL reconstruction, and trimming damaged cartilage.

The advantage over traditional open surgery is that the joint does not have to be opened up fully. For knee arthroscopy only two small incisions are made, one for the arthroscope and one for the surgical instruments to be used in the knee cavity. This reduces recovery time and may increase the rate of success due to less trauma to the connective tissue. It is especially useful for professional athletes, who frequently injure knee joints and require fast healing time. There is also less scarring, because of the smaller incisions. Irrigation fluid is used to distend the joint and make a surgical space. Sometimes this fluid leaks ( extravasates) into the surrounding soft tissue, causing edema.

The surgical instruments are smaller than traditional instruments. Surgeons view the joint area on a video monitor, and can diagnose and repair torn joint tissue, such as ligaments and menisci or cartilage.

It is technically possible to do an arthroscopic examination of almost every joint, but is most commonly used for the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, foot, and hip.

Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery is a peer-reviewed medical journal that was established in 1985 and covers research on the clinical practice of arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery, a subspecialty of orthopedic surgery. It is the official journal of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, and the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy. The initiative in establishing the journal was taken by Robert Metcalf and the first editor-in-chief was S. Ward Casscells, who was succeeded in 1992 by Gary G. Poehling. In 2014 James H. Lubowitz succeeded the retiring Dr. Poehling. Arthroscopy Techniques is an open access online companion journal publishing peer-reviewed techniques videos.