Elbow arthroscopy
Elbow arthroscopy is a type of keyhole surgery used to look inside the elbow joint and treat causes of pain, stiffness or restricted movement.
Elbow arthroscopy overview
An elbow arthroscopy allows your surgeon to examine the inside of the joint using a small camera (arthroscope) with a light source. It can be used to treat a range of conditions, including removing loose bone or cartilage fragments, clearing inflamed tissue (debridement), releasing joint stiffness, and treating early signs of arthritis or fractures. Because it uses small cuts, recovery is often quicker and leaves smaller scars than open surgery. However, due to the compact size of the elbow joint and the proximity of surrounding nerves, elbow arthroscopy requires specialist surgical expertise. In some cases, your consultant may advise that open surgery is safer or more suitable for your specific condition.
How is surgery carried out?
The procedure is usually carried out under a general anaesthetic as day-case surgery, meaning you can typically go home the same day.
Your surgeon makes two or three tiny cuts (incisions) around the elbow joint. A straw-sized camera is passed through one opening, displaying live high-definition images on a screen in the operating theatre. Fine surgical instruments are passed through the other openings, allowing your specialist to assess the joint and carry out the required treatment.
What are the advantages of arthroscopy?
The scar over the operation site is smaller than with conventional surgery. This helps with healing, as well as reducing permanent scarring. The length of your hospital stay is likely to be shorter because the procedure is less invasive. The healing and rehabilitation time can be shorter.
What are the disadvantages of arthroscopy?
As with any surgery, there is a risk of damage to nerves and other blood vessels. The technique can be challenging, especially in repeated surgical cases or where deformity exists. The surgeon may have to resort to open surgery if the attempted arthroscopy is too difficult.
Recovery from elbow arthroscopy
Rest and initial healing
Focus on keeping your dressings clean and dry. Gently move your fingers, wrist, and elbow within comfortable limits to prevent stiffness. Depending on the procedure, you should be able to manage light tasks like using a computer keyboard within a few days.
Restoring movement
Your wounds will be checked and your stitches removed at around 10 days. You will gradually increase range-of-motion and strengthening exercises under the guidance of your specialist or physiotherapist.
Returning to activity
Most patients return to full daily activities during this period. Full recovery and high-impact sports or heavy lifting may take longer, depending on the complexity of the internal repair.
Working with elbow professionals and teams
Our elbow specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their elbows. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Elbow treatment
How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
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