Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic or surgical procedure used to examine and treat conditions that affect the elbow joint.
The surgical procedure involves making small incisions to access the inside of the elbow joint.
An arthroscope, or small tube with a camera and light for viewing, is inserted into one of the incisions, and small instruments to perform the diagnostic examination or operation are inserted through the other incisions.
When do you require elbow arthroscopy?
Elbow arthroscopy is typically useful in treating the following conditions;
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Release of scar tissue to improve elbow movement
- Removal of loose bodies including bone fragments and loose cartilage
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis)
- Osteochondritis dissecans (damage to the capitellum portion of the humerus)
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
- Fixing fractures
- Repairing collateral ligaments
- Replacing elbow joint
- Decompressing the ulnar nerve
