Reconstructive surgery is done to restore damaged tissue. In the case of arthroscopy or arthroscopic surgery it refers to surgery that restores stability to a joint. This means repair or replacement of damaged ligaments. The most frequent is reconstructive surgery for a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Along with this the meniscus may be repaired.

In the shoulder, the reconstructive surgery includes arthroscopy for repair of injured ligaments after dislocations. It may also include arthroscopy with repair of the rotator cuff. Damaged ligaments of the elbow are also replaced by reconstructive surgery.

Techniques of arthroscopic reconstructive surgery include replacement of torn knee ligaments with substitute tendons taken from muscles around the knee or taken from tissue donors. Holes are placed in the bones and the substitute tendon pulled across the joint and fixed in the holes in each bone with special devices. In shoulder reconstructive surgery the torn ligaments are either reattached to the bone with suture anchors to which the torn ligament is attached by passing the sutures through the ligament and tying them or if stretched they are shortened with sutures placed in the ligaments and tied to shorten the ligaments.

Other types of reconstructive surgery include facial surgery to restore fractures, injuries or birth defects. Reconstructive breast surgery is performed after cancer surgery or for cosmetic reasons.