arthroscopy

noun

ar·​thros·​co·​py är-ˈthrä-skə-pē 

: a minimally invasive surgical procedure involving visual examination of the interior of a joint with an arthroscope to diagnose or treat various conditions or injuries of a joint and especially to repair or remove damaged or diseased tissue or bone

In arthroscopy, two small incisions are made, one for the scope and one for instruments, causing less damage to connective tissue.

—Janic Lloyd

Examples of arthroscopy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yale New Haven became the first hospital in Connecticut in which a doctor perform an awake ankle arthroscopy using needle arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique that can treat a wide range of orthopedic conditions, a hospital spokesperson said. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2025

Two months later, however, in May 2024, the player underwent another surgery — a minor arthroscopy, as The Athletic reported. —Mario Cortegana, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025

The Austria international underwent anterior cruciate knee ligament (ACL) surgery in his left knee after suffering a rupture during Madrid’s La Liga victory over Villarreal in December 2023 before in May 2024 undergoing an arthroscopy, a procedure for diagnosing and treating joint problems. —Guillermo Rai, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025

Surgeries performed by podiatrists include arthroscopy, bunion removal, correction of hammertoe (an abnormal bend to the middle joint) and other bone conditions, and repair of torn tendons or ligaments. —Adam H. Kaplan, Verywell Health, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Arthroskopie, from arthro- arthro- + -skopie -scopy

Note: See note at arthroscope. As originally performed by Bircher, arthroscopy was purely a diagnostic procedure, with repair or removal of tissue being done by open surgery.

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for arthroscopy

• colposcopy
• cystoscopy
• fluoroscopy
• spectroscopy
• colonoscopy
• laparoscopy

Medical Definition

arthroscopy

noun

ar·​thros·​co·​py är-ˈthräs-kə-pē 

plural arthroscopies

: a minimally invasive surgical procedure involving visual examination of the interior of a joint with an arthroscope to diagnose or treat various conditions or injuries of a joint and especially to repair or remove damaged or diseased tissue or bone

… an alternative to replacement—in cases of athletic injury—may be arthroscopy, which allows surgeons to operate on the joint by means of a tiny camera and instruments inserted through small incisions.

—Kenneth B. Chiacchia, Harvard Medical Health Letter

In most cases, if surgery is required, it means arthroscopy, which is the use of a scope and a mini-camera to look inside the knee.

—Paul Collins, The Idaho Statesman (Boise)

During arthroscopy, irregular areas are shaved and torn labra are repaired.

—Janice Lloyd, USA Today

arthroscopic

ˌär-thrə-ˈskäp-ik 

adjective

arthroscopic surgery

Arthroscopic treatment of degenerative arthritis can be successful in the early stages by removal of loose bodies and osteophytes from the olecranon and coronoid processes, as well as from their respective fossae.

—The American Journal of Sports Medicine

Today the arsenal of arthroscopic instruments is varied and sophisticated. A surgeon can study the entire interior of the joint by penetrating the knee from several different locations and using scopes with angled optics.

—Arnold Schechter, Sports Illustrated

arthroscopically adverb

His right knee was also examined arthroscopically for torn cartilage but no damage was found.

—Denise Tom Brown, USA Today