arthroscopy

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   A medical procedure in which a surgeon looks inside a joint through a tiny camera on a thin tube, often repairing damage at the same time.

   Grammar: Often used without an article for the technique (arthroscopy is common) and with a for one operation (she had an arthroscopy).

   Patterns

   • arthroscopy of something
   • have an arthroscopy

   He had an arthroscopy on his knee to repair torn cartilage.

   Arthroscopy usually means a shorter recovery than open surgery.

   The surgeon recommended arthroscopy before trying anything more invasive.

Word forms

Common combinations

knee arthroscopy

Knee arthroscopy is one of the most common sports operations.

shoulder arthroscopy

After shoulder arthroscopy she wore a sling for two weeks.

undergo arthroscopy

He had to undergo arthroscopy to find the cause of the pain.

diagnostic arthroscopy

A diagnostic arthroscopy confirmed the ligament tear.

arthroscopy recovery

Arthroscopy recovery is quicker than that for open surgery.

Synonyms and how they differ

keyhole surgery

Keyhole surgery is a broader everyday term for any operation through tiny cuts, while arthroscopy is specifically for joints.

arthroscopic surgery

Arthroscopic surgery means the same thing but names the operation rather than the technique, and is slightly more formal in tone.

endoscopy

Endoscopy is the general term for looking inside the body with a camera, whereas arthroscopy is limited to joints.

Opposites

Word family

arthroscope noun

the thin camera instrument used in the procedure

arthroscopic adjective

done using arthroscopy

arthritis noun

painful swelling of the joints

arthroplasty noun

an operation to replace or rebuild a joint

Commonly confused: arthroscopy or arthroplasty?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “arthroscopy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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