intrakapsulära

Intrakapsulära, or intracapsular in English, is a medical term used as an adjective to describe something located within a capsule—an enclosing structure that isolates a part of the body. The term is used across several disciplines, including ophthalmology and orthopedics, and is typically contrasted with extracapsular conditions that occur outside the capsule.

In ophthalmology, intracapsular cataract refers to an opacity confined to the lens within its capsule. Historically, intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE) removed the entire lens together with the capsule; modern cataract surgery more commonly uses extracapsular techniques or phacoemulsification, which often preserves parts of the capsule.

In orthopedics, an intracapsular fracture is a fracture that occurs inside the joint capsule. A well-known example is a femoral neck fracture within the hip capsule. Intracapsular fractures have particular implications for the blood supply to the femoral head and may be treated with internal fixation or arthroplasty, depending on patient factors and fracture characteristics.

The term also applies to other contexts where a structure or process lies within a capsule, such as intracapsular inflammation or tumors confined to encapsulated spaces. This terminology forms part of a broader classification that includes extracapsular conditions, which lie outside the enclosing capsule.

In Swedish medical usage, intrakapsulära follows the same principle, describing events or conditions occurring inside a capsule rather than outside it.