| If you or someone close to you has suffered an | | | | conventional surgery is that it is far less intrusive, in |
| internal injury to one of their appendages, meaning an | | | | that it doesn't involve a lot of cutting and subsequent |
| arm or leg then you may have heard the word | | | | healing. |
| "arthroscopy" recently. So what is arthroscopy or | | | | A Number of Devices May Be Used |
| arthroscopic surgery? Perhaps you already | | | | There are a number of devices that can be inserted |
| understand a little about it but are interested in being | | | | through the hollow arthroscope which is the main |
| completely filled in. | | | | piece of arthroscopic equipment that is used during |
| In Layman's Terms | | | | arthroscopy. The tasks that are needed to be |
| In layman's terms, arthroscopic surgery is surgery | | | | performed during the surgery will determine which |
| that is done usually on the joints and tendons of the | | | | piece of arthroscopy equipment will be used at any |
| arms and legs that uses and arthroscope. An | | | | one given time. |
| arthroscope is a long slim, hollow mechanical device | | | | Both Local and General Anesthesia are Commonly |
| that is about as big around as a pencil that has a | | | | Used |
| lighted tip on the end. | | | | Both local and general anesthesia are commonly used |
| More than One Item of Arthroscopy Equipment May | | | | during this type of surgery, depending on the |
| be Used | | | | situation. Also, while in minor cases a patient can go |
| More than one arthroscope can be used during | | | | home in an hour or so following surgery, in more |
| arthroscopic surgery but in an optimal case only one | | | | extreme cases a patient may require some |
| is used. It will be inserted through a small incision in | | | | hospitalization to recover properly. Also, a doctor |
| the skin that only requires a few stitches to close. | | | | may want to keep a patient in a hospital to keep an |
| The obvious benefit of arthroscopic surgery over | | | | eye out for complications such as infection. |