Arthroscopy: What To Think About

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What To Think About

• Surgical procedures done by arthroscopy usually result in shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times than open joint surgery.
• Arthroscopy usually is not done if:
  • A skin or wound infection is present near the joint to be examined. However, arthroscopy may be done to clean out an infected joint.
  • Ankylosis is present. Ankylosis is a condition that causes stiffness and poor flexibility of a joint and may be caused by a disease (such as ankylosing spondylitis), a joint injury, or surgery.
  • Joint destruction is severe (for example, with severe arthritis).
  • A severe bleeding disorder is present. However, arthroscopy may be done if clotting factor medications are used.
• It may take several weeks for your joint to recover. If extensive surgery is done during your arthroscopy, it may take longer than a few weeks to recover. Your doctor will give you pain medication and recommend rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy for you to do during your recovery period. Depending on which joint was examined, you may need to use splints, slings, or crutches to support movement of your joint during recovery.
• Many doctors use ultrasound, computed tomography (CT scan), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before doing an arthroscopy to make sure that any problems that need surgery can be done at the same time as the arthroscopy.

Last updated:	January 29, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, David Pichora, MD, FRCSC - Orthopedic Surgery
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer