Transosseösa

Transosseösa is a term used primarily in anatomy and surgery to describe structures or techniques that pass through bone. In Swedish and other languages, the adjective transosseösa denotes something relating to or involving bone that is traversed by a tendon, ligament, vessel, or suture, or by a surgical tunnel.

In medical practice, transosseous techniques are most commonly associated with orthopedic procedures that secure soft tissue to bone without using implanted anchors. The classical transosseous repair involves drilling tunnels through bone and passing sutures through these tunnels so that the soft tissue can be tied to the opposite cortex. A well-known application is transosseous rotator cuff repair, where the tendon is reattached by sutures routed through bony tunnels instead of relying on suture anchors. The approach can reduce implant-related costs and avoid anchor-related bone damage, but it may require greater technical precision and can increase operative time. There is also a risk of compromising bone integrity if tunnels are oversized or improperly placed.

Beyond orthopedics, transosseous suturing or drilling may appear in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery, where bone tunnels or through-bone sutures can be used to secure grafts, stabilize implants, or connect soft tissue to bone in reconstructive procedures.

Etymology: the term derives from Latin trans- (“through, across”) and os (“bone”). In Swedish, transosseösa serves as the plural or gendered form of the adjective describing through-bone features or techniques.

See also: transosseous repair, suture anchor, bone tunnel, rotator cuff repair.