Patient education: Arthroscopy (The Basics)

What is arthroscopy? — 

This is a type of "minimally invasive surgery." During the procedure, the doctor looks inside a joint to see what is causing a problem (figure 1). They can also use special tools to repair or remove tissue in the joint.

Minimally invasive surgery lets the doctor make smaller cuts (incisions) in the skin. They insert long, thin tools through the incisions. One of the tools has a camera (called an "arthroscope") on the end, which sends videos and pictures to a TV screen. The doctor can look at the screen to see inside the body. Then, they use the tools to do the surgery.

People who have minimally invasive surgery often have less pain and can return to normal activities sooner than if they had open surgery.

Your doctor might suggest arthroscopy to learn more about your joint symptoms, or if you have problems that are getting worse even with therapy and medicines.

How do I prepare for arthroscopy? — 

The doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to do anything special to prepare.

Before the procedure, your doctor will do an exam. They might send you to get additional imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI. These create pictures of the inside of the body.

Your doctor will also ask you about your "health history." This involves asking you questions about any health problems you have or had in the past, past surgeries, and any medicines you take. Tell them about:

●Any medicines you are taking – This includes any prescription or "over-the-counter" medicines you use, plus any herbal supplements you take. It helps to write down and bring a list of any medicines you take, or bring a bag with all of your medicines with you.

●Any allergies you have

●Any bleeding problems you have – Certain medicines, including some herbs and supplements, can increase the risk of bleeding. Some health conditions also increase this risk.

You will also get information about:

●Eating and drinking – You might need to "fast" before surgery. This means not eating or drinking anything for a period of time. Or you might be allowed to have liquids until a short time before surgery. Whether you need to fast, and for how long, depends on the procedure.

●Lowering the risk of infection – You might need to trim (not shave) your body hair. You might also need to wash the area with a special soap.

●What help you will need when you go home – For example, you might need to have someone else bring you home or stay with you for some time while you recover.

Ask the doctor or nurse if you have questions or if there is anything you do not understand.

What happens during arthroscopy? — 

When it is time for the procedure:

●You will get an "IV," which is a thin tube that goes into a vein. This can be used to give you fluids and medicines.

●You will get anesthesia medicines. This is to make sure you do not feel pain surgery. Types of anesthesia include:

•Local – This uses medicine to numb a small part of your body so you don't feel pain.

•Regional – This blocks pain in 1 area of your body, such as an arm, a leg, or the lower half of your body. You might be awake. Or you might get medicines to make you relax and feel sleepy, called "sedatives."

•General – This makes you unconscious so you can't feel, see, or hear anything during surgery.

●You might get medicines to help control pain after surgery.

●The doctors and nurses will monitor your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate during surgery.

●The doctor will make small incisions in the skin over your joint. They will put the arthroscope through 1 of the incisions to look at your joint. They will fill the joint with fluid to better see inside it. Then, they will put small surgical tools through the other incisions to try to fix the problem inside your joint.

●They will close your incisions and cover them with clean bandages.

●They might put on a brace or sling to protect the area and limit movement. This helps support your joint as it heals.

●The procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours. More complicated surgeries can take longer.

What happens after arthroscopy? — 

You will be taken to a recovery room. The staff will watch you closely as your anesthesia wears off. Most people can go home the same day.

As you recover:

●You might feel groggy or confused for a short time. You might also feel nauseous or vomit. The doctor or nurse can give you medicine to help with this.

●If you had a breathing tube, you might have a sore throat. This usually gets better quickly.

●Wear the brace or sling as instructed:

•If you had surgery on your hip or leg, you might not be able to put all your weight on that leg. You might also need to use crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair for some time.

•If you had surgery on your shoulder or arm, you might need to wear a sling to support your arm or limit shoulder movement.

●The staff will help you get out of bed and start moving around when you are ready.

●You will get medicine if needed to help with pain. You might need other medicines, too.

●When you are ready to eat, you will start with clear liquids. Then, you can start eating as you are able. You might feel better if you start with bland foods.

What are the risks of arthroscopy? — 

Your doctor will talk to you about all the possible risks and answer your questions. Possible risks include:

●Infection

●Bleeding

●Damage to other parts of the joint like muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, or nerves

●Blood clots

●Ongoing pain and stiffness

●The joint problem not getting better, or needing open surgery

What else should I know? — 

Before you go home, make sure you know what problems to look out for and when to call the doctor. Make sure you understand your doctor's or nurse's instructions. Ask questions about anything you do not understand.

More on this topic

Patient education: Arthroscopy – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Knee arthroscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Shoulder arthroscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Minimally invasive surgery (The Basics)