Arthroscopy is minimally invasive surgery that uses a tiny camera called an arthroscope to examine or repair the tissues inside or around your joint. The arthroscope is inserted through a small cut (incision) in your skin. Arthroscopic surgery requires a skilled operating room team, manual dexterity and 3-D spatial skills
Joints which can receive arthroscopic surgery are knee and shoulder, but smaller joints in the wrist and hand are performed by a few surgeons in the world, including Dr. Alejandro Badia at the DOC.
Recent improvement in the quality of small joint scopes and advancement in techniques have allowed for many new small joint arthroscopic procedures in the hand.
How long does it take to recover from arthroscopic surgery?
Arthroscopic surgery has risen in popularity because it usually requires shorter recovery times. The length of time depends on a number of factors, including your general health, the joint involved, and the specific procedure performed. You will have the surgery in the Surgery Center and leave the same day, with specific instructions about how to handle recovery. A person may be able to return to light activity in a few weeks and resume most other physical activities in 6-8 weeks, but in some cases in may take several months, depending on the patient’s compliance with physical therapy.
