FAQ
Arthroscopic surgery of the elbow fundamentals
What causes elbow pain?
What are the benefits of arthroscopic surgery of the elbow?
What are the risks of arthroscopic surgery of the elbow? Is the treatment safe?
How do I prepare for surgery?
What should I do the night before surgery?
Are there exercises I can start now prior to surgery?
What do I need to do the day of surgery?
What happens during surgery?
What happens after surgery?
How long is the recovery period after surgery?
What is the rehab after the surgery?
How can I manage at home during recovery from the procedure?
How frequently should I schedule follow up appointments with my doctor following surgery?
What are the CCF physician credentials?
How do I make an appointment?
What clinical trials and orthopaedic research are being conducted at CCF on the procedure?
Are there other resources that I can go to for more information on the procedure?
Why should I seek a second opinion regarding treatment for this procedure?
Arthroscopic surgery of the elbow fundamentals
Arthroscopic surgery permits the surgeon to look into the elbow joint through a small device, narrower than a pencil.
Traditional techniques required open surgery, an overnight stay in the hospital and a prolonged recovery. With newer arthroscopic techniques, patients return home within hours of the procedure, have less pain and usually recover more quickly to normal activity.
Compared to the knee joint and shoulder joint, arthroscopic surgery of the elbow is in its infancy, but with the deeper understanding of this joint made possible by the arthroscope, we can anticipate an ever increasing utility of this technique to improve the quality of our patients’ lives.
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What causes elbow pain?
A common problem of the elbow associated with sporting activity is the development of painful bone spurs, tendonitis, loose bodies, cartilage defects and later osteoarthritis and stiffness.
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What are the benefits of arthroscopic surgery of the elbow?
The benefits of arthroscopic surgery include less pain, less scarring, better preservation of motion and a more rapid and thorough recovery. Additionally, the return of function and motion appears to be superior when compared to other techniques.
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What are the risks of arthroscopic surgery of the elbow? Is the treatment safe?
Complications are uncommon but can include nerve injury, infection, bleeding, and stiffness.
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How do I prepare for surgery?
Always ask your surgeon for complete pre-operative preparation instructions. Typically, these may include:
- Complete any pre-operative tests or lab work prescribed by your doctor.
- Arrange to have someone drive you home from the hospital.
- Refrain from taking aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) one week prior to surgery.
- Call the appropriate surgery center to verify your appointment time. If your surgery is being done at Cleveland Clinic, call:
- Main Campus: 216.444.0281
- Beachwood: 216.839.3500
- Strongsville: 440.878.2500
- Lutheran Hospital: 216.696.4300
- Marymount Surgery Center: 216.518.3200
- Euclid: 216.692.7750
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What should I do the night before surgery?
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
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Are there exercises I can start now prior to surgery?
No.
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What do I do the day of surgery?
- If you currently take any medications, take them the day of your surgery with just a sip of water.
- Refrain from taking diabetic pills or insulin.
- Do not wear any jewelry, body piercing, makeup, nail polish, hairpins or contacts.
- Leave valuables and money at home.
- Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
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What happens during surgery?
You will be given general, regional, or local anesthesia, depending on your circumstances. Using a lighted, tubular instrument – an arthroscope – the surgeon inserts the scope into a small incision in the side of your joint. The doctor inserts sterile fluid to expand your joint for easier viewing and inserts a probe to help investigate your joint structures. Repairs are made through portal incisions that are so small, stitches are not typically required.
The arthroscopic techniques permit inspection of the painful elbow and may aid in the diagnosis of elbow conditions that may not be evident even by MRI scanning. Capsular contractures, which result in limited elbow motion, can be treated with arthroscopic surgery. Loose bodies which may not be seen with radiographic techniques can be readily seen and removed with the arthroscope.
Joint surface injury and irregularities, common in the throwing athlete, can be diagnosed and treated using this minimally invasive technology. Tennis elbow can be treated by removal of the diseased inner portion of the tendon as seen below as an instrument is passed through the diseased tendon.
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What happens after surgery?
Once you return home, rest and elevate your affected joint and apply ice and a compressive wrap to reduce swelling and pain. Be sure to move your arm frequently and keep it dry. Your doctor can inform you when to return to your normal activity level.
Ask your surgeon for complete post-operative instructions as protocols vary.
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How long is the recovery period after surgery?
Recovery varies from one week to several months, depending on the extent of the surgery. Most patients can return to heavy work and sports within three to six weeks of surgery if the procedure is minor. However, three to six months is often required for complete recovery.
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What is the rehab after the surgery?
Physical therapy is typically required following arthroscopic surgery of the elbow. In addition, your doctor may prescribe a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine for use at home for two to four weeks. Protocols vary widely depending upon the procedure preformed.
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How can I manage at home during recovery from the procedure?
Frequently you have only a soft dressing, are able to freely use your hand, and will have some freedom of motion of you elbow. After the initial dressings are removed, motion returns rapidly and most activities of daily living are achieved independently. Typically you are restricted from any lifting, pushing, and pulling of greater than 3 lbs. for the first week.
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How frequently should I schedule a follow-up appointment with my doctor following surgery?
Protocols vary, but sometime within three to 14 days is usual.
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What are the CCF physician credentials?
- All doctors at Cleveland Clinic Hand & Upper Extremity Center are fellowship-trained and board-certified or board-eligible in orthopaedic surgery or have the international equivalent. In addition, our surgeons have subspecialty training and years of experience in arthroscopic surgery.
- All Cleveland Clinic staff radiologists are board-certified or board-eligible in radiology or have the international equivalent.
- All Cleveland Clinic staff rehabilitation specialists are board-certified or board-eligible in physical medicine and rehabilitation or have the international equivalent.
- All Cleveland Clinic staff pain management specialists are board-certified in pain management or have the international equivalent
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How do I make an appointment?
Call 216.444.HAND (216.444.4263) or toll free at 800.223.2273 (CCF-CARE) x44263, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
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What clinical trials and research are being conducted at CCF on the procedure?
Researchers at Cleveland Clinic are involved in ongoing studies that investigate new drugs and treatment approaches for managing disease. Participants in these clinical trials can play a more active role in their own healthcare, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research.
Current research in elbow arthroscopy includes:
- Arthroscopic versus open management of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
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Are there other resources I can go to for more information on the procedure?
Patients can go to the following resources for more information on this procedure:
- Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Arthroscopy Association of North America
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Why should I seek a second opinion regarding treatment for this procedure?
As modern medical care grows more complex, patients can feel overwhelmed. The opportunity to consult a recognized authority about a particular diagnosis and treatment can bring peace of mind at an emotionally difficult time. A second opinion may be beneficial when:
- You are uncertain about having surgery.
- You still have questions or concerns about your current treatment.
- A controversial or experimental treatment is recommended.
- You have multiple medical problems.
- You have choices to make about treatment.
A convenient way to obtain a second opinion is eCleveland Clinic, a contemporary adaptation of Cleveland Clinic’s 80-year tradition as a nationally designated referral center. An easy-to-use, secure, from home second opinion service, e-Cleveland Clinic utilizes sophisticated Internet technology to make the skills of some of our specialists available to patients and their physicians, anytime, anywhere.
With eCleveland Clinic’s personalized access, no patient need ever to feel unsure or uninformed when faced with what could potentially be one of the most important decisions of their life.
> Learn more about eCleveland Clinic
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