Arthroscopy of the elbow: Diagnosis and extraction of loose bodies

Arthroscopic elbow surgery, is it safe?

“…18 The diversity of indications for elbow arthroscopy is increasing, and it already has proven to be an efficient procedure for resection of osteophytes for bony impingement in osteoarthritis, 1,28,37 for performing a synovectomy in inflammatory arthritis, 1,10,13 for release of radial epicondylitis, 9,35 to remove capsular adhesions, and to release contractures. 3,5,16,17,19,26,40 Other indications are resection of symptomatic synovial plicae, 6,17 removal of loose bodies, 4,8,17,20,29 and treatment of osteochondritis dissecans. 14,24,32 Furthermore, arthroscopy can be a diagnostic tool to evaluate patients with chronic elbow pain.…”

Single extremely large loose body in olecranon fossa in a young patient

“…Acquired loose bodies in the elbow joint originate from four main sources of underlying pathology: post-traumatic, degenerative, osteochondritis dissecans and synovial chondromatosis 1. Typically, patients complain of pain with snapping and clicking in the joint 2.…”

Elbow arthroscopy

“…The 3 most commonly used portals for the insertion of instruments and the arthroscope are the anterolateral, anteromedial and posterolateral. The anterolateral portal is commonly placed 1 cm anterior and 3 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle, although some authors favor a site only l cm distal to the lateral epicondyle (7,8). We usually create this portal first, which allows visualization of the trochlea, the coronoid, the coronoid fossa and the medial joint capsule.…”