Is Wrist Arthroscopy Safer with the Nanoscope?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Anatomy

Background:

• Traditional wrist arthroscopy uses a 2.7 mm arthroscope, potentially risking injury to adjacent structures due to its larger cannula.
• The Nanoscope, a smaller arthroscope, is proposed as a potentially safer alternative for portal creation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety of establishing dorsal wrist arthroscopy portals using the Nanoscope.
• To compare the Nanoscope's portal placement safety against traditional arthroscopes.

Main Methods:

• Ten fresh frozen cadaver specimens were used.
• Dorsal radiocarpal portals were created using the Nanoscope.
• Measurements were taken to assess the proximity of portals to surrounding anatomical structures.

Main Results:

• The dorsal sensory branch of the ulnar nerve (DSUN) was pierced in only one instance during 6U portal placement.
• No tendon injuries were observed during portal creation.
• The Nanoscope demonstrated a favorable safety profile in cadaveric portal placement.

Conclusions:

• The Nanoscope may provide a safer method for creating dorsal wrist arthroscopy portals.
• Its smaller size potentially reduces the risk of iatrogenic injury to critical anatomical structures.