Elbow arthroscopy for loose bodies

Arthroscopy is highly useful for the diagnosis and treatment of loose bodies of the elbow. Not all loose bodies are detected radiographically, and often there are multiple loose bodies, sometimes both anteriorly and posteriorly. When not complicated by an underlying disorder such as arthritis, loose bodies can be removed from any part of the elbow to provide excellent results in a predictable manner. This article describes techniques developed for the safe and effective application of this procedure in the elbow.