Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure orthopaedic surgeons use to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint. In an arthroscopic examination, the surgeon makes a small incision in the patient’s skin to use a pencil-sized instrument to magnify and illuminate the structures inside the joint. By attaching the arthroscope to a miniature television camera, the surgeon is able to see the interior of the joint, able to examine and operate with a very small incision.