Page 46 - Hoag Orthopedic Institute 2018 Outcomes Report

“WE INITIALLY WENT TO AN HOI SURGEON FOR HIS VAST EXPERIENCE IN ELBOW SURGERY FOR ATHLETES...HE TOOK THE TIME TO EDUCATE OUR SON AND GIVE HIM THE CONFIDENCE HE NEEDED.”
JAMES MAKSHANOFF, FATHER OF LUKE, PATIENT AND DIVISION 1 WATER POLO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CONTINUED
Elbow arthroscopy is not as common a
procedure as arthroscopy of the knee and shoulder. According to the American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons, less than 10 percent
of orthopedic surgeons perform this minimally invasive procedure. It is technically demanding, requires multiple portals, utilizes multiple cameras, and should be performed by someone with a strong background in the surgery.
There are two primary groups of people who undergo elbow arthroscopy – young overhead athletes with loose bodies and osteochondral lesions; and older people with loss of motion or arthrofibrosis.
The young athletes often develop loose bodies or cartilage lesions from their repetitive injuries. These lesions can be treated through the
arthroscope with loose body removal and cartilage restoration techniques. These injuries are commonly seen in throwing athletes such as baseball and water polo players, as well as young athletes who weight bear on their hands in gymnastics, wrestling and weight lifting.
The older athlete who loses motion, also known as arthrofibrosis, can be treated through the arthroscope as well. These patients lose the function of their elbow as their motion decreases over time. This problem can be treated with an arthroscopic release of scar tissue, bone and capsule to restore motion. Often, a small 4.0mm burr will be used to resect bone spurs to restore motion.
In such cases, elbow arthroscopies enable professional athletes, as well as scholastic and elite athletes, to experience expedited recoveries.
Left: CT scan showing a typical throwers elbow with a loose body in the posterior compartment.
Top Right: Typical posterior loose body at time of arthroscopic procedure.
Bottom Right: After surgical removal, the loose body is no longer present to pinch and cause pain.
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