ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY

Arthroscopic surgery allows a surgeon to repair and reconstruct joints with minimally invasive incisions. The orthopaedic surgeons at Gulf Coast Orthopaedics are experts in arthroscopic surgery for the hip, knee, shoulder, elbow and wrists have created educational material to explain approaches used in surgery.

Definition of arthroscopy by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure orthopaedic surgeons use to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint.

The word arthroscopy comes from two Greek words, "arthro" (joint) and "skopein" (to look). The term literally means "to look within the joint."

In an arthroscopic examination, an orthopaedic surgeon makes a small incision in the patient's skin and then inserts pencil-sized instruments that contain a small lens and lighting system to magnify and illuminate the structures inside the joint. Light is transmitted through fiber optics to the end of the arthroscope that is inserted into the joint.

By attaching the arthroscope to a miniature television camera, the surgeon is able to see the interior of the joint through this very small incision rather than a large incision needed for surgery.

The television camera attached to the arthroscope displays the image of the joint on a television screen, allowing the surgeon to look, for example, throughout the knee. This lets the surgeon see the cartilage, ligaments, and under the kneecap. The surgeon can determine the amount or type of injury and then repair or correct the problem, if it is necessary.

Gulf Coast Orthopaedic Specialist's own Dr. Turnage created arthroscopy educational material.