Arthroscopic Surgery
In the past, treatment of orthopedic injuries involved extensive surgery, including large incisions, a hospital stay, and a prolonged recovery period.
But arthroscopy has revolutionized the treatment of joint injuries!
With the help of an arthroscope, today’s orthopedic surgeon can easily examine, diagnose, and treat problems in the joint that previously may have been difficult to identify.
The arthroscope is a small fiber-optic viewing instrument made up of a tiny lens, light source and video camera.
The surgical instruments used in arthroscopic surgery are very small (only 3 or 4 mm in diameter), but appear much larger when viewed through an arthroscope. This is a probe used for examination of internal structures.
The surgeon inserts the arthroscope into the joint through a tiny incision (about 1/4 of an inch) called a portal. Other portals are used for the insertion of surgical instruments.
