Arthroscopic elbow surgery is an effective surgical procedure which can provide successful treatment of some elbow injuries, elbow arthritis, and other types of damage of the elbow.
An elbow arthroscopic surgical procedure involves a small narrow camera with a bright light that is inserted into the elbow joint through small cuts in the skin. Sterile water is also inserted into the joint to ‘inflate’ it and allow Mr Durrant to view the bone and tissues clearly. Using small specialised instruments Mr Durrant is able to smooth or remove any rough or damaged bone or tissue that may be causing problems; ligaments are also able to be tidied up or repaired.
Arthroscopic surgery is an excellent option for those who require surgical repair of their damaged elbow. Incision cuts are very small, and often only require one suture, making visual scaring very minimal. Post operative pain is minimal and easily managed, and recovery time is dramatically reduced when compared to ‘open’ surgical procedures. The likelihood of complications from surgery is reduced with an arthroscopic procedure. Common arthroscopic procedures performed include removing bony lumps that cause rubbing or pain, removing loose cartilage, muscle or tendon tissue, and loosening up cartilage to reduce stiffness experienced within the elbow joint.