title: Medulloscopy of the tibia: initial report of a new technique.
abstract: This study shows the ability of 3 standard endoscopic instruments to access the length of the intramedullary canal through a technique that we have termed "medulloscopy." Cadaveric studies were performed to determine the dimensions of the proximal tibia and the relative abilities of a knee arthroscope, a hip arthroscope, and a flexible rhinolaryngoscope to visualize the length of the intramedullary canal of the tibia. The 3 endoscopes were able to access the length of the intramedullary canal in the following proportions: 19.1% +/- 1.0% for the knee arthroscope, 29.1% +/- 3.8% for the hip arthroscope, and 84.1% +/- 1.8% for the flexible scope (P <.05). The proximal aspect of the intramedullary canal of the tibia can be visualized with standard knee and hip arthroscopic equipment. A flexible rhinolaryngoscope was required to access the distal tibia. Further studies are needed to determine the specific indications for intramedullary arthroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA. craig.roberts@louisville.edu
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Statton
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seligson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hempel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020679:Arthroscopes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019723:Endoscopes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D020704:Laryngoscopes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging