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By Mayo Clinic staff
Although the experience varies depending on why you're having the procedure and on which joint is involved, some aspects of arthroscopy are fairly standard.
- You'll remove your street clothes and jewelry and put on a hospital gown or shorts.
- A nurse will place an intravenous catheter in your hand or arm and inject a mild sedative.
You'll receive general, regional or local anesthesia.
- General anesthesia is sometimes the best option for repairing acute injuries, or for procedures in which the surgeon has to reposition the arthroscope repeatedly. You receive general anesthesia by an intravenous injection. If you have general anesthesia, you'll be unconscious throughout the procedure.
- Regional anesthesia leaves you awake while blocking sensation in a large part of your body. The most common form of regional anesthesia is delivered through a small tube placed between two of your vertebrae, or spine bones. Another type — sometimes referred to as a nerve block — is injected in the vicinity of a nerve or group of nerves.
- Local anesthesia involves injecting numbing agents below the skin to block sensation in a limited area, such as your knee. With local anesthesia, you'll be awake during your arthroscopy, but the most you'll feel is pressure or a sensation of movement within the joint.
During the procedure
- You'll be placed in the best position for the procedure you're having. For knee arthroscopy, that's usually on your back on a short table with your knees bent and your feet hanging down. For shoulder arthroscopy, you may be on your side or in the "beach chair" position, with your chest and torso supported at an upright angle. You may be faceup or facedown for an elbow arthroscopy, depending on your surgeon's preference.
- The surgeon places your arm or leg in a positioning or traction device to isolate the joint and provide good access to the area from different angles. He or she may use a pressure band (tourniquet) to decrease blood loss and to see the joint better.
- A surgical assistant disinfects the area around the joint and applies sterile drapes to prevent infection.
- The surgeon makes a small incision in the skin over the surgical site and inserts a hollow tube through the underlying tissue and the membrane covering the joint. The arthroscope is inserted through the tube. To distend the joint for a better view, flexible tubing — attached to the arthroscope or part of a separate irrigation system — carries sterile fluid into the joint to fill it.
- Additional small incisions at different points around the joint allow the surgeon to insert surgical tools to grasp, cut, grind and provide suction as needed for joint repair.
- When the surgery is complete, your surgeon removes the arthroscope and other instruments and flushes the joint with sterile solution.
- The surgeon may also inject local anesthetics into the joint to reduce pain.
- The incisions may be closed with sterile adhesive tapes or stitches, as necessary.
After the procedure
- Arthroscopic surgery usually takes between 30 minutes and two hours, depending on the procedure performed. After that, you'll be taken to a separate room to recover for a few hours before going home.
- Your doctor may give you medication to relieve pain and inflammation.
- At home, you'll need to wrap, rest, ice and elevate the joint for several days to reduce swelling and pain.
- You may need to temporarily use splints, slings or crutches for comfort and protection.
- Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy and rehabilitation to help strengthen your muscles and improve the function of your joint.
- In general, you should be able to resume desk work and light activity in a week, and more strenuous activity in two weeks. Remember, however, that your situation may dictate a longer recovery period, along with rehabilitation.
