Arthroscopy, also called arthroscopic surgery, is a common procedure used in the diagnosis and treatment of problems inside a joint. The word arthroscopy comes from two Greek words: arthro, meaning joint, and scope, meaning look. Arthroscopic surgery is a way to take a look inside a joint. This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which examination and treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope—an endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision.