| Arthroscopy, or arthroscopic surgery, is a type of | | | | monitor, which allows them to enlarge a small area of |
| minimally invasive joint surgery in which a small | | | | the joint for increased finesse. A second incision is |
| camera is inserted into a small incision which has been | | | | made, which allows small, delicate tools to be |
| cut into the body expressly for that purpose, in | | | | inserted. These tools are much smaller than normal |
| order to give doctors a close look at the area | | | | surgical instruments, because the work they are |
| without making a larger opening. Another small incision | | | | required to do is very delicate, and the opening |
| allows surgical tools to be inserted into the area. | | | | through which they are inserted into the body is very |
| Because of the small holes in the body and the | | | | small. To provide more room to operate, irrigation |
| delicate camera, the surgery is a much more minimally | | | | fluid is pumped into the area. |
| invasive procedure for repairing joints than traditional | | | | Because the incisions are smaller than in traditional |
| surgical methods. | | | | surgical procedures, recovery time is greatly reduced, |
| Arthroscopic methods can be employed to either | | | | as is the amount of scar tissue. There is also a lot |
| diagnose or repair a number of conditions, most | | | | less damage done to the connective tissue in the |
| notably torn floating cartilage, torn surface cartilage, | | | | area. These advantages make the procedure |
| reducing damaged cartilage, and reconstructed the | | | | especially useful for athletes, who often damage their |
| ACL. Ligaments, menisci, and cartilage can all be | | | | knees and other joints but require rapid care so they |
| identified and repaired. While most commonly | | | | can return to playing again as soon as possible. |
| performed on knees, arthroscopy can also be used | | | | The Problems |
| on virtually any joint in the body, including the | | | | One of the problems presented by arthroscopy is |
| shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, foot joints, and the hip. | | | | that the fluid used to inflate the area and allow tools |
| The Details | | | | to be inserted can drain improperly, causing |
| To perform arthroscopic surgery, surgeons cut a | | | | extravasation (which can cause airway blockage, or |
| small opening in the area of the joint, into which they | | | | swelling which makes it difficult to operate on the |
| insert the arthroscopic camera, a small endoscope | | | | area) or edema (also known as dropsy, the |
| which allows them a very detailed image of the area | | | | accumulation of fluid underneath the skin). |
| in question. The doctors view the image on a | | | | |