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HOSPITAL INTERNACIONAL MEDIMAR

 

Elbow Arthroscopy

Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique that enables surgeons to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the elbow joint and soft tissues.

Benefits of the Operation

This technique allows conditions to be treated without resorting to a surgical approach which is more difficult to recover from. It reduces internal and external scarring and allows quicker and better recovery, with fewer complications and a very comfortable post-operative period.

Medical-technical description

Between two and four 0.5 cm incisions are made around the elbow and a tiny camera and specific instruments for each type of injury are then inserted. Loose fragments of bone or cartilage and adhesions that limit the range of motion can be removed using this technique. It can also be used to treat epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and to reduce or fix intraarticular fragments.

About the operation

Elbow arthroscopy takes place in the operating theatre. The anaesthetist administers plexus anaesthesia (which anaesthetises the nerves that go to the arm) and sedation, for a painless post-operative period.

The procedure takes between 30 and 60 minutes, according to the condition to treat. Patients usually spend a night in hospital and are able to go home the following day. On release, they are given a release report setting out the recommendations, treatment to follow and subsequent appointments.

Before the operation

  • The patient goes to the doctor's office for a prior consultation, when decisions are taken and the doctor explains the surgery in detail and gives the patient an informed consent.
  • You will have pre-surgical tests consisting of a full blood test, biochemistry, coagulation, chest x-ray and ECG.
  • You must wash the surgical site with an antiseptic night before and on the morning of the surgery.
  • You must not eat or drink for 8 hours before your operation.
  • You must remove all metal objects during the operation (rings, bracelets, earrings, body piercings, etc.).

Post-operative care

  • For the first days after the surgery you may suffer some discomfort or swelling, which will disappear when you take the medicine prescribed by the surgeon.
  • You will need to wear a compression bandage, which will be removed after four days, when you will be able to start moving your elbow.
  • Correct rehabilitation is necessary, so on the first few days you must not travel or do any strenuous or violent movements.
  • You must keep the incisions dry until the stitches are removed between four and seven days after the surgery.
  • When the stitches have been removed you will be treated by a physiotherapist for between two and four weeks.
  • You will normally be in a condition to drive and do some light activities once your physiotherapy starts. You can start doing sport again after 2 months.

The importance of immediate rehabilitation

  • Correct rehabilitation is essential after an operation of this type. Rehabilitation should start as soon as possible and on the first few days you must not travel or do any strenuous or violent movements. That is why we recommend that before you go back to your country you should spent at least eight days doing rehabilitation at our Casaverde rehabilitation centre.
  • This will help you to improve muscle tone and for the muscles affected by the surgery to gradually become stronger, which will reduce the risk of falling or complications.
  • This will optimise mobility of the joint affected and reduce any pain and/or discomfort that may appear after the surgery.
  • Improves trophism – nourishes the tissues around the operation site and encourages correct healing and closure of the surgical wound.
  • Recovers motor skills, giving patients help, guidance and re-educating them to adopt walking patterns that will soon have them on the road to recovery.

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