History of arthroscopic surgery

In addition to joint replacement and internal fixation of fractures, arthroscopic surgery is regarded as one of the three greatest improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system during the twentieth century. This minimally invasive surgical technique was based on introduction and presentation of the cystoscopes from 1806; and afterwards passed the gradual advancement to reach the current complex instrument and techniques. Professor Takagi and his student Watanabe were named “father of arthroscopy” and “father of modern arthroscopy”, who made extremely effective efforts in designing, building and usage of the instruments and techniques. Shifting from arthrotomy to arthroscopy tremendously increased the success rate and decreased the complications of the joint surgery. Introduction of this technique to the veterinary medicine occurred in mid twentieth century after an arthroscopic surgery in a horse joints. Nowadays, this technique is being routinely used in veterinary medicine in horses and small animals worldwide, and has revolutionized the articular diseases diagnostic and therapeutic processes likewise human medicine. This article focuses on the history of arthroscopic surgery, the introduction into the veterinary medicine, different usages, advantages, disadvantages and complications.