transarticular

Transarticular is an adjective used in anatomy and medicine to describe something that goes across or through a joint (articulation). The term combines Latin trans (across) and articulus (joint). In practice, transarticular methods involve passage through the joint capsule or articular surfaces, as opposed to intra-articular (inside the joint) and extra-articular (outside the joint).

In clinical contexts, transarticular techniques are used in both human and veterinary medicine. Transarticular injections deliver medications such as corticosteroids or contrast agents across the joint space for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Transarticular fixation or pinning uses implants that pass through a joint to stabilize fractures or deformities; examples include transarticular pins or screws crossing the joint, which require careful imaging guidance to minimize damage to cartilage and preserve function.

Risks and considerations include injury to articular cartilage, infection, joint stiffness, and the potential development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Indications and techniques are highly scenario-dependent, and do not replace alternative approaches that avoid crossing the joint when feasible.

Transarticular terminology is used across specialties including orthopedics, radiology, and veterinary surgery, and may appear in procedural descriptions, surgical planning, and imaging reports.