The specifics of your preparations will vary depending on which of your joints the surgeon will be inspecting or fixing. Generally speaking, you should:

Certain drugs should be avoided – It’s possible that your doctor will advise you to avoid taking any drugs or dietary supplements that could raise your risk of bleeding.

Prepare ahead of time – Depending on the type of anesthesia you’ll have, your doctor may want you to avoid eating solid foods eight hours before your procedure.

Make arrangements for a ride – You will not be permitted to drive yourself home following the treatment, so make arrangements for someone to pick you up. If you live alone, have someone check in on you that evening or, better yet, stay with you for the remainder of the day.

Select loose-fitting clothing – If you’re undergoing knee arthroscopy, wear loose, comfortable clothing — baggy athletic shorts, for example — so you can comfortably dress after the treatment.

You’ll be positioned in the best possible posture for your operation. This can be done on your back or side. A positioning device will be utilized on the working limb, and a tourniquet may be applied to reduce blood loss and improve visualization inside the joint. Filling your joint with sterile fluid is another way to improve vision inside it. This adds to the amount of space available surrounding the joint.

The viewing equipment is inserted through a tiny incision. Surgical tools can be inserted through further small incisions surrounding the joint to grip, cut, grind, and suction the joint as needed. The incisions will be tiny enough to seal with one or two stitches or sterile adhesive tape strips.