Elbow arthroscopy is the use of a small fiber optic telescope to look in side the elbow. Elbow arthroscopy is not as frequently performed as shoulder arthroscopy and knee arthroscopy but is very useful. As for other joints it is often used for diagnostic purposes and this was the first use of elbow arthroscopy. Next the removal of loose bodies in the elbow joint was one of the first operative uses. Elbow arthroscopy is now also used to smooth damaged joint surface, remove scar tissue, remove inflamed synovium, repair torn ligaments and repair fractures. Elbow arthroscopy has also been used for tennis elbow treatment.

Unique to elbow arthroscopy is the need to take great care in the placement of the arthroscopy portals so as to avoid the nerves so the arm. The median, ulnar and radial nerves lie only a few millimeters from the arthroscopy portals. There is a special technique for placing the elbow arthroscopy portals. It is difficult to work on the posterior and medial side of the elbow because of the nearby ulnar nerve.

Arthroscopes of varying sizes are used to perform arthroscopy. Usually, however, the normal 4.5 or 5 mm arthroscopes are used. Sometimes the patient is turned on their side with the elbow out to the side in order to help make understanding the anatomy easier.