Letter A

Arthroscopy

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<B>Arthroscopy:</B> A surgical technique whereby a tube-like instrument is inserted into a joint to inspect, diagnose and repair tissues.&nbsp;Arthroscopy is most commonly performed in patients with diseases of the knees or shoulders.

The adjective 'arthroscopic' is often confused with 'orthoscopic.' Orthoscopic means having correct vision or producing it; and free from optical distortion or designed to correct distorted vision.

This fits with the prefix 'ortho-', meaning straight or erect, and '-scopic' from the Greek 'skopein', to see.

Orthoscopic literally is to see straight.

Knee surgery performed with a small scope is arthroscopic knee surgery, not orthoscopic knee surgery.

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