Elbow Arthroscopic Surgery
The elbow joint is comprised of various bones, ligaments, tendons and nerves that can be damaged or injured. When conservative orthopedic treatments are ineffective for repairing a damaged elbow, arthroscopic surgery may be required. At DOCS Health, we have board-certified orthopedic surgeons on staff that perform minimally-invasive elbow arthroscopic surgery at our medical center in Los Angeles.
The elbow joint connects the humerus (upper arm bone) and the radius and ulna in the forearm. The hinge joint is stabilized with ligaments and tendons that allow the arm to bend while allowing nerves to pass through to the hand and fingers. When surgical repair is needed, elbow arthroscopic surgery offers a minimally-invasive option that reduces risk. Some of the benefits of arthroscopic surgery over open surgery include:
- Smaller incisions
- Quicker healing
- Less soft tissue damage
- Less risk of infection
- Reduced scarring
An arthroscope is a small, flexible surgical tube that has a lens, camera and light that can be inserted through a small incision into the elbow. The images are sent to a digital monitor that can be viewed by the orthopedic surgeon during exploratory or repair surgeries. Other small incisions are used to access the elbow joint with surgical instruments to complete the needed repairs.
Minimally-Invasive Surgery for Elbow Conditions
At DOCS Health, we prefer using conservative treatments for joint conditions whenever possible. If surgery is necessary for an elbow condition, it may be possible to perform the repair with arthroscopic surgery. Some elbow conditions that may be suitable for minimally-invasive surgery treatments include:
- Loose bodies in the elbow (bone, cartilage)
- Bone spurs
- Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteochondritis dissecans
If you suffered an elbow injury or have a chronic elbow condition that is not responding to conservative treatments, elbow arthroscopic surgery may be an option for treatment. Contact us at DOCS Health in Los Angeles to schedule an appointment with one of our top orthopedic surgeons.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.