Extraartikulär

The term *extraartikulär* (from Latin *extra* meaning "outside" and *articulare* meaning "joint") refers to structures, processes, or conditions that occur outside the confines of a joint (articulation). In medical and anatomical contexts, it describes phenomena that affect tissues, spaces, or functions surrounding a joint but not directly within its synovial cavity or bony components.

In musculoskeletal terminology, extraartikulär conditions often involve soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, muscles, bursae, or surrounding blood vessels and nerves. For example, extraartikulär inflammation may refer to swelling in tissues adjacent to a joint, such as tendonitis in the rotator cuff region near the shoulder joint, rather than synovitis within the joint itself. Similarly, extraartikulär fractures involve breaks in bones near a joint but not directly at the articular surface.

The distinction between intraartikulär (within the joint) and extraartikulär processes is important in diagnosis and treatment. Conditions like bursitis or periarticular calcifications are classified as extraartikulär because they involve structures outside the joint space. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound often differentiate between these types of abnormalities to guide appropriate therapeutic interventions.

In orthopedic surgery, extraartikulär procedures may include repairs to ligaments or tendons surrounding a joint, such as an ACL reconstruction near the knee, which involves structures outside the joint capsule. Understanding the location and nature of these conditions helps clinicians tailor treatment plans, whether through physical therapy, medication, or surgical intervention.