Arthroscopic surgery is a way to inspect and perform joint surgery. This procedure is usually performed on the knee, shoulder, elbow, or wrist and involves inserting an arthroscope - which consists of a tiny tube, a lens, and a light source -- into the joint to look for and repair damage.
Common Reasons For Arthroscopic Surgery
A physician may order arthroscopic surgery if there is:
- A need for joint surgery
- Damaged meniscus (the piece of cartilage that cushions the knee joint area)
- Joint pain from an injury
- Joint disease
- Lesions or other problems detected by x-rays
- Signs of bone fragments from a fracture
- Signs of a torn ligament
- Unexplainable joint pain
Arthroscopy can also help see if a disease is getting better or worse, or to determine whether a treatment is working.
Arthroscopic Surgery at Virtua
Virtua offers a variety of arthroscopic surgery options, including minimally invasive techniques.
Virtua's Sports Medicine Program offers comprehensive services for injury prevention, education, evaluation and advanced treatment of movement-related pain or injuries.
The program's three co-medical directors are board-certified orthopedic surgeons, fellowship-trained in sports medicine and specialize in the treatment and surgical management of sports medicine injuries. In addition, they treat activity-based pains and strains that keep patients from normal activities. Virtua's Sports Medicine Program specializes in injuries to the knee, elbow, shoulder, hand and ankle.