Inspection and repair of the inside of a joint, using a flexible viewing tube called an endoscope, inserted through a small incision. The technique is most commonly used on knee joints and allows orthopedists to remove damaged material, repair torn tissues, and make other repairs, in a procedure that allows people (notably athletes) to resume normal activity quickly, unlike a traditional operation, in which the whole kneecap is exposed.
Joint surgery performed using a technique called arthroscopy, which involves the use of a specialized viewing instrument to observe the interior of a joint. Arthroscopic surgery is performed to remove unattached pieces of cartilage, repair or remove torn knee cartilage, and obtain a biopsy specimen to diagnose infections, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or disorders of the connective tissue.