Arthroscopic lavage means washing out any blood, fluid or loose debris from inside the joint cavity during a keyhole procedure.
Guided by an internal camera placed in the joint, with the image relayed to a monitor, the surgeon is able to wash out the cavity.
Debridement and lavage
Lavage is generally combined with arthroscopic debridement, where fronds of joint material or degenerative tissue is sucked out using a small 'hoover' - ie. both washing (rinsing) and sucking.
'Arthroscopic' means that this is done using keyhole surgery, where a thin 'scope' is pushed into the joint (arthro=joint) to visualise the structures.
Bits of unwanted tissue in the joint may release destructive enzymes, and also may cause 'catching' between the moving bones.
Synonyms:
lavage
washout
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