Arthroscopy

What is Arthroscopy?

• Also called key hole or minimally invasive surgery, arthroscopic surgery is  a simple day stay procedure which involves Dr Herald using a special instrument known as an arthroscope.
• The arthroscope allows Dr Herald to look into your joint (shoulder, elbow or knee) via a very small incision (usually less than 1cm) without having to open the joint up.
• With fibre-optic light and a magnifying glass, the arthroscope provides a very accurate view of your joint to determine what needs a clean up, repair or reconstruction.
• A miniscule camera simultaneously transmits images of your joint to a TV monitor for Dr Herald to view.

What conditions is arthroscopy used to diagnose and treat?

Arthroscopy is useful for many acute sports and work injuries including

• Shoulder Arthritis
• Shoulder Instability
• Shoulder stiffness
• Subacromial Decompression (shoulder impingement)
• Frozen Shoulder
• Removal of loose bodies floating around the joint

What are the benefits? 

• Day surgery, so there’s no need to stay in hospital for lengthy periods
• Optimal recovery due to less invasive procedures
• Less risk of infection or after care issues