The diagnosis and treatment of knee joint problems have improved greatly since a minimally invasive procedure called arthroscopy was developed. Arthroscopy allows a surgeon to see inside the knee and to carry out procedures through small incisions. Orthopaedic surgeons can use arthroscopic surgery to perform a variety of procedures, including: The removal of tiny bits of bone or cartilage, the repair or reconstruction of torn ligaments, the removal of inflamed synovium (the membrane that lines the cavity of a synovial joint and produces synovial fluid) and the removal of inflamed bursae.