Keyhole surgery

Written by Dr Sheila Strover on March 14, 2025

Keyhole surgery is surgery performed with thin instruments through two or more tiny cuts, or portals.

arthroscopyarthroscopy view of normal cartilage

Keyhole surgery of a joint is called arthroscopy

The word 'arthro' implies 'joint', so arthroscopy is keyhole surgery where one uses narrow instruments to look into a joint via a tiny incision or portal, and the image is relayed onto a monitor in front of the surgeon's head.