Arthroscopy

What is arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that visualizes, diagnoses, and treats joint problems. It is a minimally invasive approach that allows your surgeon at Pioneer Peak Orthopedics to see inside your joint without making a large incision. Your surgeon can also repair certain types of joint damage using this procedure.

Why do I need an arthroscopy?

Your doctor at Pioneer Peak Orthopedics may recommend arthroscopy if other forms of imaging, like X-rays, can’t confirm your diagnosis or if they still have questions about the nature of your condition.

The practice uses this procedure to help diagnose a range of inflammatory and acute or chronic pain conditions in joints like your:

• Knee
• Hip
• Wrist
• Elbow
• Shoulder

Arthroscopy can help diagnose certain conditions caused by arthritis. It’s also used as a treatment to repair injuries like a torn ACL or rotator cuff. 

What happens during arthroscopic surgery?

Before the procedure, your surgeon from Pioneer Peak Orthopedics gives you a local or general anesthetic. 

During the minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, they make a small incision in your skin and insert a narrow tube with a fiber-optic camera and light to illuminate and magnify the inner area of your joint. 

The camera displays the image of your joint on a screen, which allows your surgeon to see ligaments, cartilage, and other areas that a physical exam or imaging cannot assess. 

They can diagnose and treat conditions like loose bone fragments, damaged cartilage, inflamed joints, torn ligaments, and more with arthroscopy.

What is the recovery time for arthroscopic surgery?

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure, and most patients can go home a few hours after surgery. Your surgeon may recommend some post-surgical care measures like rest, icing, and certain exercises with the practice's on-site physical therapy team.

If needed, your doctor prescribes medication for pain relief and provides you with crutches or temporary splints.

Most patients are able to go back to work in a few days and can drive and perform other daily activities in one to three weeks. Anything more strenuous needs to wait a few weeks more.

To learn more about arthroscopy, call Pioneer Peak Orthopedics to request an appointment today.