artroskopiaa

Artroskopiaa, or arthroscopy in English, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat disorders of joints. An arthroscope—a small camera mounted on a rigid or flexible probe—is inserted through small skin incisions, allowing the surgeon to view the inside of the joint on a video monitor. The technique combines visualization with the use of miniature surgical instruments introduced through additional portals. In Finnish usage, the form artroskopiaa is the partitive/object form of artroskopia.

Commonly performed on the knee, but also used for the shoulder, hip, ankle, elbow, and wrist, arthroscopy can be diagnostic or therapeutic. Diagnostic arthroscopy assesses cartilage, menisci, ligaments, and the synovial lining. Therapeutic goals include removing loose bodies, trimming or repairing damaged cartilage, repairing or reconstructing ligaments, treating meniscal tears, debriding inflamed tissue, and addressing certain conditions such as femoroacetabular impingement in the hip or rotator cuff disease in the shoulder.

Procedure details: may be done under regional, spinal, or general anesthesia. It is often performed on an outpatient basis with small scars and less tissue disruption than open surgery.

Recovery and outcomes: recovery times vary by joint and procedure but are typically shorter than traditional open surgery. Postoperative rehabilitation, physical therapy, and gradual return to activities are common. Complications are relatively uncommon but can include infection, bleeding, nerve or blood vessel injury, stiffness, blood clots, and instrument breakage.

History: Arthroscopy was developed in the 20th century, with major advances in optics and instrumentation leading to widespread use in the 1970s–1990s. Since then, arthroscopy has become a routine tool for joint surgery in many specialties.