Arthroscopy is a surgical technique whereby an optical instrument connected to a camera is introduced into a joint to explore it visually (knee, shoulder, hip, wrist etc.). The joint is gonflée with a sterile liquid. The procedure takes place in this liquid environment, which preserves the ligaments and cartilage.
The procedure is monitored.
The most common arthroscope has a diameter of 5 mm and is introduced into the joint through a small incision (1 cm). The procedure is performed under anaesthetic. One or two further small incisions are required to introduce the instrument and drain off intra-articular fluid.
This technique is less traumatic for the tissues than "open" surgery techniques, and recovery from surgery is faster. Small scars are aesthetically pleasing, there is no blood loss, tissue trauma is minimal, and hospital stay is significantly reduced. Patients can sometimes be discharged the same day.
Complications remain rare, a priori below 0.5%.
Thanks to arthroscopy, knee and shoulder surgery has made enormous progress. Arthroscopy allows perfect effet control of the procedure (video control), with a short hospital stay and generally very simple postoperative recovery.