How does arthroscopy help diagnose osteoarthritis?

Arthroscopy -- looking inside a joint with a tiny camera inserted through a small incision -- can be helpful for diagnosing osteoarthritis. The camera can show whether osteoarthritis or injury has damaged the cartilage in the joint and whether there are problems with the ligaments or tendons inside the joint. It can also detect whether the joint contains any loose bits of cartilage or bone. Arthroscopy is most often used to diagnose osteoarthritis in the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or ankle.