Diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy.

Arthroscopy has developed dramatically over the last 10 years. Surgeons now have the ability to perform many procedures arthroscopically in almost any joint that previously required arthrotomy. This has resulted in notable benefits in decreased morbidity, earlier return to full activity, and decreased cost. Considerable experimental work is being done to apply arthroscopic procedures to joints other than the knee and shoulder in order to develop new procedures to successfully treat disorders in these areas.