If your doctor recommends elbow surgery, they are making that recommendation based on the judgment that your elbow will not adequately heal without surgical intervention. This may be due to the nature of the injury itself, or because you have not responded well to past treatments.

 

Most of the time, elbow surgery can be performed in a minimally invasive manner. During arthroscopic elbow surgery, the doctor makes tiny incisions near the elbow, and inserts a camera and small tools through those incisions. This allows the doctor to operate on the elbow without opening up the entire joint, and is preferable whenever possible. In some cases, the doctor may need to perform open joint surgery.

 

Surgery can be extremely beneficial if done right. Unfortunately, not all doctors have the same level of skill, or the same quality of bedside manner to help patients feel comfortable with their procedure. In order to ensure that you get the best treatment available, it is important to carefully research doctors in your area before making a decision.