Lithotrites

Lithotrites are surgical instruments designed to break up stones within the body, most commonly kidney stones or bladder stones. The term "lithotrite" is derived from the Greek words "lithos" meaning stone and "tritos" meaning crusher. These instruments were historically used in procedures to manage urolithiasis, the condition of having stones in the urinary tract.

The basic principle of a lithotrite involves grasping a stone with a fenestrated (perforated) or solid jaw and then applying force to fracture it into smaller pieces. These smaller fragments could then be more easily removed by the surgeon, typically through the same surgical opening or by natural expulsion. Early lithotrites were often made of metal and operated manually. Different designs existed, varying in the shape and mechanism of their jaws.

While lithotrites were a significant advancement in stone treatment, their use has largely been superseded by less invasive techniques. Modern urology utilizes extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), where shock waves generated outside the body are focused on the stone to break it apart, and various endoscopic lithotripsy methods using lasers, ultrasonic energy, or electrohydraulic probes. These newer methods generally involve less surgical trauma and a shorter recovery period for the patient. However, understanding lithotrites provides insight into the historical development of surgical interventions for kidney and bladder stones.