[Extra-articular elbow arthroscopy]

Abstract

Extra-articular elbow arthroscopy has to be considered as the evolution of the elbow surgery to a mini invasive endoscopically assisted surgery developed by the recent advance of the elbow arthroscopy. Various pathologies, such as lateral epicondylitis, ulnar nerve entrapment, distal Biceps tendon rupture, synovial cysts, or olecranon bursitis have been treated arthroscopically. Extra-articular pathologies can be treated through an intra-articular endoscopic approach. The true endoscopic extra-articular technique is proced through a real anatomical space or inside a space of work created de novo by the surgeon. The difficulty of using endoscopy in extra-articular pathologies of the elbow is related to the vasculo-nervous structures sourrounding the articulation wich are directly subject to potential injury. Elbow extra-articular endoscopy must be considered as a difficult and sometimes dangerous procedure reserved to experimented elbow arthroscopic surgeons. Those techniques are yet to demonstrate their superiority in term of results and security compare to the open techniques.