Please do not eat and limit drink to clear liquids for at least six hours before the procedure. Loose clothing is recommended for ease of dressing after the procedure. You’ll be advised about medications that should be discontinued before arthroscopy and about pain relief options afterward. Please arrange a ride home after this procedure.
During this low-risk procedure at the Ambulatory Surgical Center of Utah, patients can expect to receive a general, regional, or local anesthesia depending on the extent of the procedure. After a mild sedative is administered, the joint will be isolated in a traction device and the area disinfected. The surgeon makes a small incision over the surgical site and inserts a hollow tube through the underlying tissue covering the joint for the arthroscope. Meanwhile, saline will be flushed into the area to expand the joint for better viewing and to minimize bleeding. More small incisions are made to allow the surgeon to insert the necessary tools needed to repair the joint. Afterward, the surgeon removes the arthroscope and flushes the joint with sterile saline solution. The incisions are closed with stitches or tape.
