Digitale Bildverarbeitung in der Arthroskopie am Kniegelenk

Digital solutions are becoming integrated into all fields of medicine. In arthroscopy of the knee joint the visualization of intra-articular structures can also be optimized using digital image processing. This article presents a new arthroscopy system (Pano™ Scope, Arthrex, Munich, Germany) that enables a 30° and a 70° viewing angle to be calculated from a 45° wide-angle image. It also enables the viewing angle to be changed intraoperatively at the push of a button. This new arthroscope with digitally adjustable viewing angles was tested on Sawbone specimens and cadaver specimens and it could be shown that the 70° perspective is particularly suitable for viewing the femoral insertion zone via the anterolateral portal and the ramp region of the medial meniscus via a transnotch view. For arthroscopic operations, all-inside meniscus repair, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction and suture hook repair of a medial ramp lesion, the 45° wide-angle lens was advantageous because it allows a very large overview of the operation field. In summary, this application using digital image processing is suitable for improving the visualization of intra-articular structures during arthroscopic operations.