Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
OVERVIEW
Arthroscopic debridement of the elbow is a procedure used to look at the elbow joint using a small camera (arthroscope) and inspect, diagnose and repair any problems found. This procedure is an excellent alternative to regular surgeries since it involves a much smaller incision, resulting in a faster and easier recovery period. Recovery, although shorter than regular surgery, will still take several months and will need physical therapy.
ANATOMY
The elbow joint is where the upper arm bone (humerus) meets the two forearm bones (radius and ulna). The bony point of the elbow (olecranon) is at the upper end of the ulna.
The joint consists of several muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tendons, and is both a pivot and hinge joint, meaning it allows you to bend and straighten, as well as twist and rotate your arm. Thick ligaments (collateral ligaments), located on the inner and outer sides of the elbow, hold the joint together while preventing dislocation.

DESCRIPTION
Arthroscopic debridement of the elbow is a procedure used to inspect, diagnose, and repair problems inside of the elbow joint. This procedure uses a small camera, called an arthroscope, which is inserted into the elbow. The camera allows for your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician to use the arthroscope to look inside of the elbow without having to make a huge incision.
The elbow may be a very complex and important joint, but it is not protected by muscle or fat like other joints, making it very easy to injure. Damage to the elbow is usually caused by a traumatic injury, overuse from repetitive-motion tasks or sports, or from weakened bones due to aging. Arthroscopic debridement of the elbow may be necessary to confirm the presence of joint damage and remove unhealthy tendon tissue. Arthroscopy is considered an ideal treatment option since it requires smaller incisions, has shorter recovery times and less scarring than the traditional surgical options.
Arthroscopic debridement of the elbow is only recommended if non-surgical treatments such as rest, physical therapy, and medications or injections that can reduce inflammation have not been successful. The most common injuries arthroscopic debridement of the elbow is used to treat include:
- Treatment of tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
- Release of scar tissue to improve range of motion.
- Treatment of osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis).
- Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory arthritis).
- Removal of loose bodies (loose cartilage and bone fragments).
- Treatment of osteochondritis dissecans (activity related damage to the capitellum part of the humerus seen in throwers or gymnasts).
Not all elbow injuries can be treated arthroscopically. There are several elbow surgical treatments that are most effective when done as an open, traditional procedure.

Arthroscopic Debridement Elbow
SURGICAL PROCEDURE
In preparation for this procedure, you will be positioned so that the elbow can be bent comfortably, and the area will be cleaned and sterilized to prevent infections. You will receive local anesthesia to numb the elbow, and possibly a sedative to help you relax. In some cases, general anesthesia is used instead of local anesthesia.
Your surgeon then creates a series of small incisions around the elbow, and inserts an arthroscopic camera as well as other tools necessary to complete the procedure. The camera allows your doctor to view the entire area of the elbow as the procedure is performed. Fluid is injected into the space around the elbow, which expands the joint, allowing your surgeon to look for any signs of damage or disease. Once the injury or condition has been discovered, the arthroscopic tools are used to repair any damage. At this point in the procedure, bone spurs may be filed down and loose, damaged cartilage will be removed.
Once the treatment is complete, the small incisions are closed with either stitches or surgical staples. Finally, the elbow is bandaged, and you will be provided with medication for pain relief. Most patients are allowed to return home the same day.
NEXT STEPS
Although recovery from arthroscopy is often faster than recovery from open surgery, it may still take weeks for your elbow joint to completely recover. You can expect some pain and discomfort for at least a week after surgery. If you have had more extensive surgery, it may take several weeks before your pain subsides. It is important to ice and elevate your elbow regularly for 48 hours after surgery. This reduces the risk of severe swelling and helps to relieve pain. Depending on the type of surgery performed, your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician may recommend specific instructions for longer periods of ice and elevation.
Rehabilitation plays a vital role in getting you back to your daily activities. An exercise program will help you regain elbow and forearm motion and strength. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will develop a rehabilitation plan specifically designed for you. The time it takes for you to return to daily activities depends on the type of surgery and will be discussed with you before your surgery. Full recovery may take several months.
Areas of Focus
- Elbow
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Tennis Elbow
- Triceps Tendonitis
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Valgus Extension Overload
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow:
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Upper Extremity
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- Primary Care Orthopedics Sports Medicine
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis