Arthroscopy of the first MTP joint, perspective 2

Abstract

In 1985, Watanabe and Ito were the first to suggest arthroscopic procedures for small joints, including those of the hands and feet (Arthroscopy of small joints (1985)). The purported advantage of this approach was to avoid the morbidity associated with arthrotomy and soft tissue dissection of open approaches, accelerating recovery. With the advent and proliferation of small joint arthroscopy equipment in the 1990s, arthroscopy of the small joints of the distal extremities became feasible. Since then, techniques and indications have expanded, and reports on outcomes have followed. These techniques are becoming more widely recognized and incorporated into clinical practice and educational activities.