There are at least seven different types of elbow disorders that may require elbow arthroscopy including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Golfer’s elbow
• Tennis elbow
• Olecranon bursitis
• loose bone fragments or cartilage
• Dislocation or fracture

While each of these conditions may present marginally different symptoms, pain during elbow movement is common. However, the pain may also be indicative of restrictive scar tissue after a previous surgery. If this is the case, a less invasive type of surgery to remove excess tissue may be sufficient.

An elbow arthroscopy may be required for a number of different conditions, including tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, fractures, and issues with excess scar tissue, amongst others. Before recommending this surgery, your doctor will conduct a physical examination of your elbow and check your medical history. They may also order X-rays to check the condition of your bones along with CT or MRI scans to detect any other potential causes of pain.

There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options when it comes to treating elbow problems. Non-surgical methods can sufficiently treat and managing pain. Physiotherapy, exercises, massage, acupuncture, elbow tape or bracing, and anti-inflammatory medication are often exhausted prior to surgical methods. Surgery is generally recommended if non-surgical treatments have been tried and are unable to reduce the pain and allow the patient to return to normal activities.  

Elbow arthroscopy generally delivers strong success rates for elbow conditions. Given early arthroscopic intervention, even elite athletes with chronic elbow conditions can regain full pain-free motion in the elbow post-surgery. In some cases, lifestyle modification may increase the likelihood of a lasting positive outcome – for example, if you have a physical job that requires extensive use of the arms. Ultimately, your results post-surgery or after a physical therapy program ultimately depend on your commitment to rehabilitative exercises as much as the procedure itself. 

Whilst the majority of people who undergo elbow surgery do well and are very happy with their results, there are risks which are specific to elbow surgery in addition to the general risks of surgery. This includes deep infection, injury to the nerves tendons or blood vessels close to the surgical field which may require further surgery, stiffness or loss of motion, developing abnormal bone formation such as heterotopic ossification or myositis ossificans, ongoing pain, instability, fracture of the bones and abnormal pain responses such as Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

Most of these risks are low and less than 5% but stiffness is not uncommon but usually resolves with time with physiotherapy. It is important to be aware of these risks before consenting to surgery. There are also risks relating to the specific type of elbow surgery that you are having, which Dr Cheriachan will discuss with you in detail during your consultation.