Application and benefit analysis of needle arthroscopy for joint disease diagnosis and treatment

Needle arthroscopy (NA) is a minimally invasive surgical device that has transformed the management of joint diseases. Characterized by a diameter of less than 2 mm, NA is a cornerstone of minimally invasive orthopedic procedures. The clinical utility of NA has been extensively validated in numerous studies. Studies indicate that NA demonstrates high diagnostic performance for intra-articular pathologies, with reported sensitivity and specificity reaching up to 94.4% and 96.7%, respectively. Moreover, it enables an integrated "diagnosis-decision-treatment" approach, which has been shown to reduce the average cost of management by approximately 50% and shorten the diagnostic period by up to two weeks. However, the steep learning curve associated with using 0° optical systems imposes limitations on its widespread adoption. Additionally, the inherent limited mechanical strength of NA instruments may increase the procedural risk of iatrogenic injury. This review summarizes recent advances and cost-benefit analyses of NA in the management of joint diseases, aiming to provide a valuable reference for its future clinical translation and wider application. This technological advancement holds the potential to revolutionize the management of joint diseases, rendering procedures minimally invasive, precise, and cost-effective. Thereby, it promises to facilitate a technological innovation toward clinic-based, minimally invasive management of joint diseases.