Elbow Arthroscopy

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.

• Care notes
• Ambulatory
• Discharge
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An elbow arthroscopy is a procedure to look inside your elbow with an arthroscope. This is a thin tube with a light and camera on the end. Your healthcare provider may also fix problems in your elbow during the procedure. You may have numbness or problems moving your hand for 12 hours after surgery. This is normal and should get better within a day.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

Seek care immediately if:

• Your arm feels warm, tender, and painful. It may look swollen and red.
• You have numbness or tingling in your elbow or arm more than 24 hours after surgery.
• You cannot move your arm or fingers.
• The skin on your arm or hand becomes pale or turns blue.
• You have sudden, severe pain anywhere in your arm or hand.

Contact your healthcare provider if:

• You have pain that is not helped with pain medicine.
• You have signs of infection, such as red streaks, swelling, or pus in the surgery wound.
• You have a fever.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

Medicines:

You may need any of the following:

• Prescription pain medicine may be given. Ask your healthcare provider how to take this medicine safely. Some prescription pain medicines contain acetaminophen. Do not take other medicines that contain acetaminophen without talking to your healthcare provider. Too much acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Prescription pain medicine may cause constipation. Ask your healthcare provider how to prevent or treat constipation.
• NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen, help decrease swelling, pain, and fever. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If you take blood thinner medicine, always ask your healthcare provider if NSAIDs are safe for you. Always read the medicine label and follow directions.
• Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.

Care for your incision wound as directed:

Keep the bandage on your elbow clean and dry. Do not remove your bandage until your healthcare provider says it is okay. Your healthcare provider will tell you when it is okay to take a shower or bath. He or she will tell you when to change the bandage. Look for signs of infection, such as red streaks, swelling, and pus. Check for infection every day.

Self-care:

• Apply ice as directed. Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decreases swelling and pain. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel before you apply it to your elbow. Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed.
• Elevate your elbow above the level of your heart as often as you can. This will help decrease swelling and pain. Prop your arm on pillows or blankets to keep it elevated comfortably.
• Do not lift with your operated arm as directed. You may damage your elbow if you lift anything after surgery. Do not carry anything with the hand on your operated arm, or put weight on the arm.
• Use an elbow brace as directed. You may be given a hinged elbow brace after surgery. The brace will help protect your elbow. Your healthcare provider may want you to wear it for a few weeks.
• Ask when you can return to your daily activities. Your healthcare provider will tell you when it is okay to start driving, return to work, and do other activities.
• Do not play sports until your healthcare provider says it is okay. You will need to wait until you do not have pain in your elbow. You will also need full range of motion in the elbow. Start slowly. You will be able to put more stress on your elbow slowly, over time. If you play a sport that involves throwing, your provider will create a return to throwing plan. This may start about 5 months after surgery. You will have to start slowly and work up to full throwing motions. You will also need to work up to full participation in your sport. You may need to wait until x-ray or MRI pictures show that your elbow has healed completely. This may take 6 months.
• Go to physical therapy if directed. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to help strengthen your elbow and increase range of motion.

Follow up with your healthcare provider as directed:

You may need to come in to have your sutures removed. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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