Elbow Arthoscopy

What is elbow arthroscopy?

• Arthroscopic elbow surgery is a day procedure where Dr Herald can look inside the joint using a small cut with instruments the width of a pencil.
• Spurs and loose bodies are removed and tight adherent capsules are released.
• The benefit of arthroscopic surgery includes a quicker recovery as only small punctures through the skin are used to access the joint as opposed to formal, open incisions.

What conditions is elbow arthroscopy useful for?

• Elbow arthroscopy can be useful in diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, loose bodies in the joint, tennis elbow, stiffness and fractures.

What happens after the procedure? 

• Improved elbow range is obtained under anaesthesia but extensive post operative rehabilitation is needed to maintain this.
• Following surgery, a period of continuous elbow range of motion with a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine is required to maintain motion and prevent recurrent scarring.
• The CPM machine is used in hospital for around 3 days continuously and for most of the day for up to a month after.
• A physiotherapist is an important part of your post-operative rehabilitation.