Arthrotomy
The term arthrotomy is in the medicine commonly used for surgical opening of a joint. It is carried out for diagnostic and therapeutic measures.
to form
- Opening the joint using a conventional incision technique (classic arthrotomy)
- Arthroscopy with an arthroscope and the smallest possible incision (minimally invasive)
development
In the classic arthrotomy, relatively extensive soft tissue structures near the joints must be severed. Therefore, the postoperative healing process is slower and in some cases less complete than with minimally invasive arthrotomy. Because of the better healing process, arthroscopy is increasingly replacing classic arthrotomy. Corresponding medical technology improvements play a major role in this .
In Germany, the classic arthrotomy was used until the 1990s for standard interventions that are nowadays performed arthroscopically (replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament , meniscus operation, etc.). Today, the classic arthrotomy is still routinely used for endoprosthetic replacement surgery, in tumor surgery or as a last resort for joint infections . An arthrotomy may also be indicated to restore mobility ( arthrolysis ), to stiffen the joint ( arthrodesis ) or to partially block a joint ( arthrorosis ).
A special form of the classic arthrotomy is disarticulation , in which the joint ends are separated from one another.
literature
- Joachim Grifka, Jürgen Krämer: Orthopedics, trauma surgery . Springer 2013, ISBN 9783642288753 , p. 74.
- Olof Dietz: Textbook of general surgery for veterinarians . Georg Thieme 2004, ISBN 9783830410003 , p. 266.
