Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy (also known as arthroscopic or keyhole surgery) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint in which an arthroscope, an endoscope inserted into the joint through a small incision, is used to examine and sometimes treat damage. During ACL reconstruction, arthroscopic procedures may be performed. The advantage of this procedure over traditional open surgery is that the joint does not have to be completely opened up. Only two small incisions are made for knee arthroscopy, one for the arthroscope and one for the surgical instruments to be used in the knee cavity. Because there is less trauma to the connective tissue, this reduces recovery time and may increase the rate of success. Because of the smaller incisions, it has gained popularity due to evidence of faster recovery times and less scarring. The surgical instruments are much smaller than standard instruments. Surgeons can diagnose and repair torn joint tissue, such as ligaments, by viewing the joint area on a video monitor. Although an arthroscopic examination can be performed on almost any joint, it is most commonly used on the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, foot, and hip.