What is elbow arthroscopy?
Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique. Through small incisions and with the help of a small camera, the specialist can work inside the elbow joint, diagnose and treat pathologies that were previously more difficult to recognize and required a more aggressive surgical approach, which caused more complications after surgery. It is an intervention that is performed under loco-regional anesthesia, sleeping only the arm that will be operated. In most cases, the operation is performed on an outpatient basis and, a few hours after the operation, the patient will go home.
Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique with better results and less aggression for the joint.
Why is it performed?
It is a technique used to address many elbow pathologies. More and more elbow procedures are performed through arthroscopy, either inside the joint or even in the surrounding structures (tendons and nerves). Thus, the most frequent indications are:
- Stiffness and/or loss of mobility of the elbow
- Joint blockages
- Epicondylitis or tennis elbow
- Cartilage lesions (osteochondritis dissecans)
- Trauma and joint fractures
- Elbow arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Some ligamentous instabilities of the elbow
- Biceps tendon ruptures
- Ulnar nerve entrapment
What does it consist of?
Arthroscopy is the surgery that allows addressing various pathologies of the elbow. For it, the specialist in Traumatology will realize small incisions to be able to accede to the injury and to visualize the articulation. The advantages are many, since it allows a direct vision of the pathology, a more complete understanding and diagnosis, as well as a very precise treatment. The fact of making small incisions is also favorable, as it reduces postoperative pain, the patient suffers less loss of elbow mobility, there is less risk of wound infection and, sometimes, immobilization of the joint is not required after surgery.
Preparation for elbow arthroscopy
It will always be necessary a previous assessment by the specialist in Traumatology, who must be a great expert in this technique to ensure the best results for the patient. In the previous studies, the necessary tests will be performed to assess the functionality of the joint and whether this should be the most appropriate technique or not. Thus, X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging and mobility studies will be performed.
Care after the intervention
It is a minimally invasive technique, as a general rule, so recovery is faster than in open surgeries. Likewise, postoperative pain is less and elbow mobility can begin a few days after surgery, even the day after surgery in some cases. Nevertheless, it is something that will depend on each case and that the traumatologist will have to evaluate, since there are injuries that require a greater immobilization than others.
Alternatives to this treatment
It is essential that the patient with an elbow injury go to a specialist who is very well trained in this pathology or injury, and that the elbow joint is one of those that presents more potential risks during surgery, since it is surrounded by vascular and nervous structures. Thus, the specialist will be able to explain to you whether arthroscopy is the best option, or he/she will also be able to explain to you the other procedures that exist to approach it. These include elbow arthroplasty or other techniques.