Elbow Arthroscopy

Elbow arthroscopy is a 'keyhole' surgery that lets doctors look inside your elbow joint and fix problems using tiny tools.

Instead of making a big cut, the surgeon makes a few small incisions (about the size of a pencil eraser). A camera called an arthroscope goes through one incision and shows a live, magnified view of your joint on a screen. Through the others, the surgeon slides in instruments to shave bone spurs, remove loose cartilage, smooth rough surfaces, release tight tissues, or wash out inflammation.

Why do it?

It helps with common issues like locking or catching from loose bodies, stiffness from scar tissue, painful bone spurs, tennis elbow that hasn’t improved with therapy, or early arthritis changes. Because the cuts are small, there’s usually less pain and swelling, fewer scars, and a faster recovery than open surgery—though it’s still real surgery and rehab matters.

Shorter wait times

Elbow arthroscopy often follows lengthy queues. Instead of waiting months for a consultation and OR time, private centers can schedule surgery within weeks—reducing time spent with locking, catching, or night pain, and helping you get back to school, work, or sport sooner.

Choice and control

Going private gives you more say in your care. You can:

• Choose your elbow arthroscopy surgeon based on forearm/throwing‑injury experience and credentials.
• Select the clinic location (often out‑of‑province).
• Plan surgery around school, competitive seasons, or work commitments.

Peace of mind

Patients value knowing exactly who will operate, when it will happen, and the detailed plan (anesthesia, approach, rehab). This certainty eases anxiety and helps families coordinate time off, support, and physical therapy.

Preventing further decline

Function and performance: Limits months of pain, motion loss, and grip weakness that derail training, exams, or work.

Joint health: Persistent impingement, loose bodies, or scar tissue can worsen stiffness and cartilage wear; earlier arthroscopy can address mechanical problems before they escalate.

Surgical complexity: Repeated inflammation and scar can make later surgery more extensive, with harder rehab.

Mental load: Reduces time living with uncertainty, restricted activities, and poor sleep from night symptoms.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that elbow arthroscopy is needed.
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2. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in private elbow arthroscopy.
   • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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3. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
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4. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
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6. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Most elbow arthroscopies take about 45–90 minutes of operating time. Expect a few extra hours at the surgical centre for check-in, anesthesia, and recovery before you go home.

Basic steps:

• Check-in and marking: You meet the team, the surgeon marks the elbow, and you review the plan.
• Anesthesia: You’ll get either general anesthesia (asleep) and/or a nerve block to numb the arm.
• Position and prep: Your arm is positioned on a padded support. The skin is cleaned and covered in sterile drapes.
• Small portals (tiny cuts): The surgeon makes 2–4 small incisions (about the size of a pencil eraser).
• Camera in: A pencil-thin camera (arthroscope) goes through one portal and shows the inside of your elbow on a screen.
• Fix the problem: Through other portals, tiny tools remove loose fragments, shave bone spurs, smooth rough cartilage, release tight tissue, or wash out inflammation—whatever your elbow needs.
• Rinse and check: The joint is flushed with sterile fluid. The surgeon re-checks motion and stability.
• Close up: The small incisions are closed with steri-strips or stitches and covered with a dressing; a light bandage/splint may be applied.
• Wake-up and instructions: You recover in the PACU, get discharge instructions, and head home the same day.

Experiences do vary. Your surgery may look different, so consult your surgeon.

Every elbow is different—follow your surgeon’s plan. Taking rehab seriously usually means better results. Some private clinics offer virtual follow-ups or coordinate physio near home. In general, what to expect:

Week 1

Reality check: soreness, stiffness, swelling, and sleep hassles. Not fun.

Goals: control pain and swelling, protect the elbow, start gentle motion.

Activities:

• keep the dressing clean/dry
• wear sling as told
• ice/elevate
• hand/wrist/shoulder moves
• gentle elbow bends/straightening as cleared
• short walks
• nerve block may keep the arm numb for a day

Weeks 2–4

Still annoying but improving.

Goals: restore basic range of motion (ROM), reduce swelling, use the arm for light tasks.

Activities:

• stitch removal if needed
• regular physio
• more elbow flex/extend and forearm rotate (supination/pronation) within limits
• light daily use (keyboard, phone, eating) if comfortable
• gradually less sling time (per your surgeon)

Weeks 5–12

The work phase.

Goals: near-full ROM, start strength.

Activities:

• progress exercises (isometrics to light resistance)
• scapular/shoulder and grip strengthening
• functional tasks (lifting light objects close to the body)
• avoid heavy lifting or forceful twisting until cleared

Weeks 13–24

Refining strength and confidence.

Goals: full ROM, stronger forearm/arm, sport/work-specific drills.

Activities:

• progressive resistance, endurance, coordination
• start controlled sport skills if approved (e.g., easy throws/drills for athletes)

Month 6+

Most people feel “normal-ish,” but keep smart loading and maintenance exercises. Return to full sport or heavy work only when cleared by your surgeon/physio.

Red flags anytime: fever, worsening redness/drainage, severe calf pain/swelling, chest pain/shortness of breath, new numbness/weakness—call your care team.

Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery, however the costs are significant and very because of the potential complexity involved in certain instances. Private clinics in Canada typically charge $6,500 to $9,000.

In the United States, the costs vary even more: CA$7,250 to CA$12,700.

Costs vary so much because of location, surgeon experience, facility type, scope of potential treatments, complexity of the issue, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).

What’s included

Most quotes for private elbow arthroscopy cover:

• Surgeon fee (and assistant if used) and anesthesiologist/general anesthesia.
• Facility fees (OR time, nursing, supplies, arthroscopy equipment).
• Immediate post‑op recovery care and routine early follow‑ups (wound check, suture removal).
• Basic sling and initial rehab instructions (varies by clinic).

What’s usually not included:

• Pre‑op consults and advanced imaging beyond basics (MRI, MRI‑arthrogram).
• Braces/splints or special implants beyond standard supplies.
• Unexpected overnight admission or ER visits; additional imaging for complications.
• Formal physiotherapy/occupational therapy beyond initial guidance.
• Post‑discharge medications (pain meds, anti‑nausea).
• Travel and accommodation if out‑of‑province.
• Fees for complication management or re‑operations beyond the routine global period (policy dependent).

Insurance and financing options

• Private health insurance: Some plans may cover part of the costs, such as hospital fees. It’s important to check your policy directly.
• Financing plans: Many clinics offer monthly payment options to help spread out the cost. Learn more about your financing options here.‍
• Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC): This is a non-refundable credit that reduces your taxes when you pay out-of-pocket for eligible medical expenses. Learn more about how to claim METC for private surgeries.

Choosing your surgeon is one of the benefits of going the private route. Here’s what to consider and the key questions to bring to your elbow arthroscopy consultation.

What to look for

• Experience and volume
  • Ask how many elbow arthroscopies they perform each year and their mix (loose body removal, synovectomy, debridement for arthritis, osteophyte/impingement work, OCD lesions, plica, contracture release, tennis elbow, nerve decompression adjuncts).
• Credentials and training
  • Confirm licensure with the provincial college (e.g., CPSO in Ontario, CPSBC in BC, CPSA in Alberta).
  • Look for FRCSC-certified orthopaedic surgeons with a shoulder & elbow or sports/upper‑extremity surgery fellowship.
• Safety
  • Ask about infection rates, unplanned returns, stiffness rates, return‑to‑sport timelines.
• Technique and anesthesia
  
  • Portal strategy, need for concomitant procedures (ulnar nerve decompression/transposition, microfracture, capsular release, osteophyte removal).
  • For throwers or valgus overload, clarify if any UCL evaluation is planned and whether arthroscopy is diagnostic vs therapeutic.
• Facility accreditation‍
  
  • Make sure the clinic is accredited by national bodies such as Accreditation Canada or the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (CAAASF).‍
• Rehab integration‍
  
  • Access to elbow‑savvy physiotherapy, clear phased protocol, and communication with your local therapist if you’re traveling.

Questions to ask during your elbow arthroscopy consultation

Surgeon and surgery plan

• How many elbow arthroscopies do you perform yearly, and for my specific condition?
• What are your rates in the last 12–24 months for infection, nerve complications (especially ulnar), stiffness needing additional procedures, and unplanned readmissions?
• Which procedures do you anticipate for me (e.g., loose body removal, synovectomy, debridement, microfracture, capsular release, osteophyte resection)? What are the trade‑offs?
• What anesthesia do you recommend (regional block + sedation vs general) and your pain‑control plan (multimodal meds, nerve block duration, rescue meds)?
• Is this same‑day outpatient? Any chance I’d need an overnight stay?

Recovery and aftercare

• What’s my expected timeline to: come out of the sling/brace, achieve near‑full motion, return to desk vs manual work, non‑impact cardio, and sport‑specific drills?
• What movement limits will I have early on (lifting limits, end‑range extension/flexion, forearm rotation, throwing restrictions)?
• What red flags should trigger a call/ER visit (fever, increasing redness/drainage, severe swelling/pain, numbness/weakness in hand/fingers)?Who is my post‑op contact (direct phone/email)?
• How many follow‑ups are included and when?

Costs and logistics

• What exactly is included in my quote (surgeon, anesthesiologist, facility fees, standard disposables, anchors/implants if needed, nerve block, immediate post‑op care, first follow‑ups)?
• What could add cost (extra anchors/implants, microfracture tools/biologics, ulnar nerve decompression, longer OR time, unexpected imaging, braces, complications)?
• If additional procedures are required once you’re in the joint, how do you handle consent and pricing in real time?
• If complications occur, how are they managed and billed? Do you have a transfer agreement with a hospital?
• If I’m traveling from another province, which follow‑ups can be virtual?