Elbow arthroscopy, also called closed elbow surgery, is a modern type of surgery performed with 2-3 small incisions of 1.5 cm, without opening the joint, to evaluate the inside of the elbow joint and in the treatment of some diseases.
Who Is Elbow Arthroscopy Suitable For?
Elbow arthroscopy is generally an effective surgical method in solving the following problems.
Elbow arthroscopy is performed to remove these parts in cases where the articular cartilage is torn off after trauma or the cartilage is torn and pain occurs during elbow joint movement.
Elbow arthroscopy is performed in cases where the elbow joint capsule thickens and sets, such as joint stiffness (arthrofibrosis) due to trauma and surgery in the elbow joint capsule.
It is used to remove bone protrusions (osteophytes) that cause pain and limitation of movement in the elbow joint due to trauma or rheumatic diseases.
Elbow arthroscopy is performed in the treatment of the disease called Osteochondritis Dissecans, in which the cartilage of the elbow joint decomposes with the bone under it.
How is Elbow Arthroscopy Performed?
In the arthroscopy procedure, two separate holes are drilled into the joint, and one of these holes is entered into the joint with a pencil-sized camera with a light on its tip. The image obtained from the camera is projected onto a screen. It can be understood by seeing what kind of problem is in the joint from the images. Tools to be processed are inserted through another hole.
Elbow arthroscopy is usually performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.
The advantages of elbow arthroscopy compared to traditional open elbow surgery include:
Smaller cuts
Minimal soft tissue trauma
Less post-operative pain
Faster recovery time
Lower infection rate
