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| Office Arthroscopy |  |
What is it?
Office arthroscopy is a technique pioneered by Dr. Halbrecht which involves minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery performed in the office setting using local anesthesia. Dr. Halbrecht began utilizing this method in 1990.
Who is eligible?
Younger patients who have no significant medical problems and can tolerate local anesthesia are the best candidates.
How does it work?
Surgeries are performed in a comfortable office setting using local anesthesia, and patients are sent home with band aids over the wounds and without crutches. Surgeries that can be performed in this manner include: meniscal tears, removal of loose bodies, chondroplasties (shaving of roughened cartilage surfaces), and biopsies. In the shoulder, debridements of labral tears, bursectomies and debridements of partial rotator cuff tears have been performed.
What are the results?
In comparing office arthroscopy to MRI of the knee, Dr. Halbrecht has found the office arthroscopy to be significantly more accurate as a diagnostic tool. A similar study performed several years later confirmed the same results for the shoulder. Since that time, the technique has evolved to include hundreds of cases of in-office surgical treatments. Office surgery results are equal to those performed in the hospital setting.
