Arthroscopic surgery. Surgeons adjusting an arthroscope (miniature video camera) during an operation. In arthroscopic surgery, the arthroscope is inserted through a small incision and the image is transmitted to a monitor. The surgeon uses the monitor as his eye, as his instruments are inserted through another incision that is too small to see through. The smaller size of the incisions means that they heal faster and produce less scarring than traditional open surgery. Arthroscopic surgery is most often used to treat orthopaedic conditions such as joint injuries.