Elbow Arthroscopy

What is elbow arthroscopy?

Elbow arthroscopy is a procedure used to diagnose and treat problems inside your elbow joint. Healthcare providers can use arthroscopy to see the elbow anatomy in great detail. Elbow arthroscopy procedures can also relieve symptoms and restore elbow function with fewer incisions, less pain and faster recovery than traditional (open) surgery.

Who may need elbow arthroscopy?

Elbow arthroscopy can diagnose and treat issues caused by:

• Age-related wear and tear.
• Injury, including sports injuries.
• Overuse.

People who may need elbow arthroscopy include:

• Athletes and others who throw and use their arms in repetitive motions.
• People with conditions such as arthritis or infection.

Your healthcare provider may recommend this minimally invasive procedure if you have injured or damaged your elbow cartilage, tendons or ligaments. Arthroscopic treatment may be an option if you don't get relief from nonsurgical treatments such as:

• Rest.
• Physical therapy.
• Medications.
• Braces or splints.
• Steroid injections.

When is elbow arthroscopy performed?

Arthroscopy can detect the cause of symptoms such as pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of motion in your elbow joint. Providers may also use it to treat joint, tendon and ligament problems. In severe cases, they may combine elbow arthroscopy with open surgery.

How is elbow arthroscopy used to treat conditions?

Treatment depends on your condition and its severity. In many cases, elbow arthroscopy can help heal fractures or inflammation. While it cannot cure conditions such as arthritis, arthroscopy can ease symptoms and improve mobility.

Your surgeon may use elbow arthroscopy to:

• Release tensed muscles (contractures).
• Remove loose bone and cartilage.
• Smooth surfaces that contact one another.
• Remove unhealthy tissue or tissue that blocks motion (adhesions).

What conditions can elbow arthroscopy treat?

An elbow arthroscopy procedure can treat a range of conditions and injuries that affect the elbow joint. It is much less invasive than elbow replacement surgery.

Your provider may use elbow arthroscopy to treat:

Elbow conditions:

• Infection (septic arthritis).
• Inflammation (synovitis).
• Loose bone and cartilage (osteochondritis dissecans).
• Osteoarthritis.
• Permanently tensed muscles (contractures).
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Scar tissue that limits mobility (adhesions).

Elbow injuries:

• Dislocated elbow.
• Elbow fractures.
• Pitcher's elbow (valgus extension overload syndrome).
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).

Who performs elbow arthroscopy?

Orthopaedic surgeons typically perform arthroscopic procedures in a hospital or outpatient surgery setting. These surgeons specialize in conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system.

What should I expect before elbow arthroscopy?

Your healthcare provider may recommend additional testing before your procedure. Blood tests and imaging study results can guide elbow arthroscopy and inform treatment. Tests may include:

• CT scan.
• MRI.
• X-ray.

Before your elbow arthroscopy procedure, tell your healthcare provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• Supplements or medications you take, including blood thinners (anticoagulants) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

What should I expect on the day of elbow arthroscopy?

Elbow arthroscopy is typically an outpatient procedure. You can expect to go home the same day. You receive anesthesia, so arrange for someone to take you home and remain with you for the rest of the day as you recover.

What happens during an elbow arthroscopy procedure?

To prepare for elbow arthroscopy, you lie on your side or stomach. You receive anesthesia so you will be asleep.

During the procedure, your orthopaedic surgeon:

• Fills the affected elbow joint with saline fluid to see more clearly and reduce risk to surrounding tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
• Makes a few tiny incisions in the treatment area.
• Inserts small surgical tools, including an instrument with a camera and light on the end (arthroscope) to view inside your elbow joint.

At this point:

• If you are having elbow arthroscopy to diagnose a problem, your surgeon may perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
• If you are having elbow arthroscopy to treat a condition or injury, your surgeon will perform the procedure.

After the arthroscopy, your surgeon closes the incisions with stitches or staples and uses a bandage, dressing or splint to cover and protect them.

What should I expect after elbow arthroscopy?

In most cases, you can go home within a couple of hours after the procedure. Incision care is important. You may need to:

• Ice and elevate your elbow.
• Keep the incision clean, dry and covered.
• Take NSAIDs to relieve pain.
• Wash in the shower, not bathe, until the incision heals.
• Wear a sling, splint or brace.

What are the risks of elbow arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a relatively safe procedure. But the elbow is a small area, containing bone, muscle, blood vessels and nerves. Surgeons use arthroscopy less often to treat the elbow than for other, larger joints, such as the knee and shoulder.

Potential complications include:

• Allergic reaction to anesthesia.
• Blood clot, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Damage to nearby tissue or nerves.
• Excessive bleeding or swelling.
• Infection.
• Nerve irritation or injury.

When should I know the results of elbow arthroscopy?

If you had a biopsy, you should receive results in several days. If your surgeon used arthroscopy to treat an elbow condition, they can typically tell you that day about how it went. Keep all follow-up appointments, so your surgeon can check on your progress.

When should I call my provider after having elbow arthroscopy?

Call your provider or seek immediate medical care if you experience:

• Confusion.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Excessive bleeding.
• High fever.
• Inability to urinate (pee) or poop.
• Leg pain, redness or swelling.
• Pain that is not controlled by medication.

Unexpected swelling or drainage (pus) in the affected area.

When can I return to my regular activities after elbow arthroscopy?

Your recovery after elbow arthroscopy depends on the condition of your joint and the extent of the damage. It also depends on whether your surgeon treated the elbow during the procedure.

You may experience some pain and discomfort for several weeks after surgery. Most people can return to school or work within a few days. Full recovery may take many months. Talk to your healthcare provider about when it's safe to return to the activities you enjoy.

Will I need physical therapy after elbow arthroscopy?

Your healthcare provider may recommend exercises to prevent joint stiffness and reduce swelling. Physical therapy may also help strengthen muscles and restore mobility.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Elbow arthroscopy is a safe, effective way for healthcare providers to examine the joint and surrounding tissue. Surgeons also use elbow arthroscopy to ease symptoms and restore elbow function. Because it's minimally invasive, it requires fewer incisions. You have an easier recovery, so you can get back to work and play faster.