Key Points

Arthoscopy is a minimally invasive way to do surgery on joints

This technique can be used as a tool to diagnose a problem of a joint when other noninvasive tests are inconclusive

A surgeon can more thoroughly examine a joint and more acurately treat the problem

The patient has less pain and will recover quicker than with traditional surgery

Below are arthroscopic photos of problems inside elbow joints; for more info click here

• Below is a wear lesion on the ulna from a loose piece of bone called a fragmented coronoid process

• Below is a fragmented coronoid process (FCP)

• Below is an arthroscopic shaver that is used to remove the FCP

• Below is an osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion (pink area) on the medial condyle of the humerus

• Below left is an ununited anconeal process – note the reddened border of the loose bony chunk
• Below right is a normal anconeal process