Arthroscopy of the elbow joint

Arthroscopy of the elbow joint is the treatment and thorough examination of the joint cavity through small punctures using modern equipment - an arthroscope. Through one puncture, a tiny camera diagnoses the problem better than MRI, and through another, a thin and flexible tube is used to insert surgical instruments directly into the joint without injuring soft tissue.

The elbow joint has a complex structure, as the capsule connects three bones at once. This segment is also very mobile. Therefore, it is easy to injure it, and surgery is not an easy task. However, arthroscopy is designed for such cases, where maximum accuracy and control of every millimeter on the monitor is required.

Young athletes (tennis players, golfers, volleyball players, etc.), some professions with a load on the hands, and the elderly are at risk of injury to this joint.

How to check yourself for joint mobility? If the elbow does not bend more than 30-35° or does not extend more than 130°, this is a direct indication for treatment. Such dysfunction can lead to arthritis. Therefore, it is better to restore the elbow joint with arthroscopy in the early stages, when the effectiveness of 100% is high.

INDICATIONS FOR ARTHROSCOPY

  • impaired normal mobility;
  • overgrowth of the inner membrane;
  • bursitis - fluid accumulation;
  • intra-articular fractures;
  • osteoarthritis;
  • chondromatosis;
  • rheumatoid and septic arthritis;
  • arthrofibrosis;
  • cartilage reconstruction;
  • the need to extract bone or cartilage fragments;
  • treatment of epicondylitis, contractures;
  • synovitis, etc.

Due to the complex structure of the elbow joint, there are contraindications.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • anatomical deformation, including the formation of lamellar tissue outside the skeleton;
  • if there is a history of ulnar nerve transposition;
  • plastic surgery on the skin or soft tissues in this area;
  • burns that prevent access to the joint;
  • localized skin infections.

HOW THE OPERATION OF ELBOW ARTHROSCOPY IS PERFORMED

The procedure is performed either under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. It is better to choose general anesthesia, as the arm must be fixed and immobile for a long time. A miniature 2.7 mm camera is inserted through one puncture, which transmits the image to the monitor, and manipulators for treating the damage (shaver, ablator) are inserted through the other. The puncture sites are sutured with a single stitch, which, after removal, will not be visible on the body. After the surgery, the patient stays in the hospital for 1-2 days. The arm is fixed with an elbow brace for immobilization.

REHABILITATION

The main task after surgery is to restore joint mobility. Therefore, from the first or second day, you should work out the joint with certain exercises. Full rehabilitation takes from several weeks to several months. The doctor prescribes drug therapy, exercise therapy, and physiotherapy procedures. If the arthroscopy was performed in a simple form (for example, removal of loose bodies), then in a few weeks you can return to sports and full-time work.

BENEFITS OF ARTHROSCOPY

  1. Minimal intervention in soft tissue, no incisions.
  2. Fast recovery and return to the usual rhythm of life with stress on the joint.
  3. Almost 100% guarantee of successful results thanks to modern equipment.
  4. Low probability of infection or damage to nerves, neighboring tissues or blood vessels.
  5. Almost imperceptible pain during the rehabilitation period.

A great advantage in arthroscopy is the experience of the operating orthopedic traumatologist Vasyl Makarov, who has 25 years of practice and has performed more than 6,000 arthroscopy and arthroplasty operations. In his practice, the risk of at least minimal complications after manipulations is 0.25%, which is a clear indicator of the success of operations and patient recovery.

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