Arthroscopy is appropriate for a wide range of conditions affecting the knee, shoulder, elbow, hip, wrist, and ankle. Although many joint problems respond to conservative methods of treatment and pain management such as physical therapy, certain conditions require more intensive treatment.

At Town Center Orthopaedic Associates, our team of orthopaedists and physical therapists exhaust all conservative treatment options before recommending surgery. If your condition causes severe symptoms or doesn’t respond to conservative care, your doctor may recommend arthroscopy to further examine and treat your joint problem.

During arthroscopy, your orthopaedic surgeon inserts the arthroscope through a small incision. They use the arthroscope to view any damage to your joint or surrounding structures. If appropriate, your surgeon then inserts several additional small instruments to correct or repair your condition. Once the procedure is complete, your surgeon closes your incisions, and you’re off to recovery.

Aftercare or downtime depends on the specifics of your procedure. Depending on the location of your surgery, you may have to limit your activities for a few days or weeks. In most cases, recovery time is minimal. Common arthroscopy procedures like hip arthroscopy, shoulder arthroscopy, wrist arthroscopy, elbow arthroscopy, and knee arthroscopy take roughly six weeks for early healing. To help improve your recovery and prevent further complications, your doctor may recommend physical therapy.