Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Scoping out the past: meniscus examination with arthroscopy; the light arrived in the knee before the end of World War I with the cystoscope, Fresnel’s lens, and Edison’s lamp

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Orthopaedics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Before radiology and arthroscopy, an arthrotomy had to be made for a definitive diagnosis and treat intraarticular pathology. Before arthroscopy, endoscopy was performed on other organs, and particularly the bladder. This paper aimed to investigate the transition of the cystoscope to the arthroscope, and all the bright innovations about light and optics that finally allow arthroscopy.

Methods

Physicians have always wanted to examine their patients’ body cavities. Some cavities are quite accessible for diagnostic purposes, using specula and light, while others are difficult to inspect. The female bladder was the first organ to be examined using an endoscope with some light by Philipp Bozzini in 1806. We report the important innovations and inventions done by surgeons but also by scientists in optic and electricity during two centuries before arriving to arthroscopy.

Results

Whereas the urologists immediately embraced the idea of endoscopy, and adapted the rules of optic and the progress in electricity to allow bladder illumination and examination with cystoscopes, the orthopedic surgeons were reluctant. We focus on the early history of endoscopy and arthroscopy specifically. Our story ends in 1918 with Dr. Severin Nordentoft in Germany and Professor Kenji Takagi in Japan began with cystoscopes before designing the first arthroscopes for performing the first knee arthroscopies.

Conclusion

We document some crucial figures on the thorny path, from cystoscopy to adopting the arthroscope as a useful orthopaedic tool.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Historical paper.

Code availability

None.

References

  1. Hargest R (2020) Five thousand years of minimal access surgery: 3000BC to 1850: early instruments for viewing body cavities. J R Soc Med 113:491–496

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hernigou P (2023) Orthopaedic surgery as seen by artists and by surgeons: science or art? Int Orthop. Jun 47(6):1629–1638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-05771-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Davis CJ, Filipi CJ (1995) A history of endoscopic surgery. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Hernigou P, Hernigou J, Scarlat M (2021) The Dark Age of medieval surgery in France in the first part of Middle Age (500-1000): royal touch, wound suckers, bizarre medieval surgery, monk surgeons, Saint Healers, but foundation of the oldest worldwide still-operating hospital. Int Orthop. Jun 45(6):1633–1644. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-020-04914-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Nordentoft S (1912) Ueber endoscopie geschlossener Kavitaten mittelst meiner Trokarendoskops. Zentralblatt für Chirurgie 39:95–97

    Google Scholar 

  6. Takagi K. (1982) The classic. Arthroscope. Kenji Takagi. J. Jap. Orthop. Assoc. 1939;167:6–8. Clin Orthop Relat Res.

  7. Kamatsuki Y, Furumatsu T, Hiranaka T, Okazaki Y, Kintaka K, Kodama Y, Miyazawa S, Ozaki T (2023) Epidemiological features of acute medial meniscus posterior root tears. Int Orthop 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-05848-0 Online ahead of print

  8. Malinowski K, Kim DW, Mostowy M, Pękala P, Kennedy NI, LaPrade RF (2023) Incomplete meniscal healing in early second-look arthroscopy does not indicate failure of repair: a case series. Int Orthop. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-05868-w

  9. Mavrogenis AF, Karampikas V, Zikopoulos A, Sioutis S, Mastrokalos D, Koulalis D, Scarlat MM, Hernigou P (2023) Orthobiologics: a review. Int Orthop 47(7):1645–1662. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-05803-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Carroll L (1895) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; publisher Mac Millan

  11. Arnaud de Ronsil, Georges (1769) A plain and easy method of curing the disorders of the bladder and urethra, for persons afflicted therewith, and proper directions for the use of medicated candles. With anatomical descriptions of the parts interested in those maladies, and a vocabulary of the technical terms. The third edition. Corrected and enlarged, with a letter to Mr. Goulard. London : sold by P. Elmsly, successor to Mr. Vaillant, 1769. Electronic reproduction. Farmington Hills, Mich. : Thomson Gale, 2003. (Eighteenth century collections online). Available via the World Wide Web

  12. Hernigou P, Hernigou J, Scarlat M (2021) Medieval surgery (eleventh-thirteenth century): barber surgeons and warfare surgeons in France. Int Orthop 45(7):1891–1898. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-021-05043-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Triaire P (1899) Récamier et ses contemporains, 1774-1852. Étude d'histoire de la médecine aux XVIIIe et XIXe siècles, Paris, Baillière et Fils

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mérat and Patissier (1858) in the dictionary of pratical medicine, vol 3. By james Copland London

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bozzini P (1806) Lichtleiter, eine Erfindung zur Anschauung innerer Teile und Krankheiten. J Pract Arzneykunde Wundarzneykunst. 24:107–124

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bozzini P (1807) Der Lichtleiter oder Beschreibung einer einfachen Vorrichtung und ihrer Anwendung zur Erleuchtung innerer Hohlen und Zwischenraume des lebenden animalischen K€orpers. Verlag des Landes Industrie Comptoir, Weimar

    Google Scholar 

  17. Schutte H, Herman JR (1972) Philipp Bozzini (1773–1809). Invest Urol 9:447–448

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Verger-Kuhnke AB, Reuter MA, Beccaria ML (2007) Biography of Phillip Bozzini (1773–1809) an idealist of the endoscopy. Actas Urol Esp 31:437–444

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Engel RM (2013) Philipp Bozzini - the father of endoscopy. J Endourol 17:859–862

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Bush RB, Leonhardt H, Bush IM et al (1974) Dr. Bozzini’s Lichtleiter: a translation of his original article (1806). Urology 3:119–123

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Reuter M (2006) Philipp Bozzini (1773-1809): the endoscopic idealist. Urologe. 45:1084–1091

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ségal A (1978) Pierre Salomon Ségalas d’Etchépare, précurseur de l’endoscopie moderne. Bull Acad Nat Méd 162:709–714

    Google Scholar 

  23. Fresnel A., (1822), “Mémoire sur un nouveau système d’éclairage des phares”, read 29 July 1822; reprinted in Fresnel, 1866–70, vol. 3, pp. 97–126; translated by T. Tag as “Memoir upon a new system of lighthouse illumination”, U.S. Lighthouse Society, accessed 26 August 2017

  24. Desormeaux A (1855) “De l’endoscope, instrument propre à éclairer certaines cavités intérieures de l’économie animale”, dans Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences, vol. 40, janvier-juin, p. 692–693— Description de l'endoscope.

  25. Desormeaux A (1865) De l’endoscope et de ses applications au diagnostic et au traitement des affections de l’urèthre [sic] et de la vessie — Leçons faites à l’hôpital Necker [archive]. Baillière, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  26. Desormeaux A (1867) The endoscope, and its application to the diagnosis and treatment of affections of the genito-urinary passages: lessons given at Necker Hospital [archive], trad. R. P. Hunt, Chicago, Robert Fergus' Sons, 108 p.. 11.

  27. Hernigou P (2022) The strange history of surgical gloves in orthopaedic surgery (part I): from no gloves and no hand washing to the introduction of cotton gloves in orthopaedic surgery. Int Orthop 46(11):2705–2714. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-022-05537-4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Bruck J Jr (1867) Das Urethroscop und Stomatoscop durch galvanisches Gluhlicht. Maruschke and Berendt, Breslau

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zajaczkowski T, Zamann AP (2004) Julius Bruck (1840-1902) and his influence on the endoscopy of today. World J Urol. 22:293–303

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Max Nitze (1897): “Eine neue Beobachtungs- und Untersuchungsmethode fur Harnrohre, Harnblase und Rectum,” Wien med Wschr 29(1879): 649-52, 688- 90, 713-16, 776-82, 806-10; idem, “Eine neue Modifikation des Harnleiterkatheters,” Zentralbl Krankheit Harn Sex Org 88-13.

  31. The Light Bulb, Cystoscopy, and Thomas Alva Edison. Available online http://www.liebertpub.com/doi/epub/10.1089/end.2010.0420

  32. Mouton WG, Bessell JR, Maddern GJ (1998) Looking back to the advent of modern endoscopy: 150th birthday of Maximilian Nitze. World J Surg 22:1256–1258

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Quarrier Sc, Rabinowitz R, (2018) The light at the end of the scope: the history of electro surgical instruments Co and the mignon lamp, Urology 10.1016/j.urology.2018.01.027

  34. Hernigou P, Boceno A, Potage D (2023) Rubber gloves in orthopaedic surgery (part II): Cooke and Goodyear; Halsted and Caroline’s gloves of love; from cotton to rubber after Perthes’ experiments; double glove technique with Urist. Int Orthop 47(4):1115–1123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-022-05666-w

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Kieser C, Seydl G (2000) Severin Nordentoft und die Prioritat für die Arthroskopie. Arthroskopie. 13:197–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Nordentoft S (1912) Ueber Endoskopie geschlossener Cavitäten mittels meines Trokart-Endoskopes Verh Dtsch Ges Chir

  37. Nordentoft S (1912) Ueber Endoskopie geschlossener Kavitäten mittels Trokarendoskops. Zentralbl Chir

  38. Kieser CW, Jackson RW (2001) Severin Nordentoft: the first arthroscopist. Arthroscopy 17:532–535

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Nakamura K (2006) Professor Yoshinori Tashiro’s contribution to Orthopedic Surgery. Journal of Orthopaedic Science. 11(2):115–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-006-1001-5

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Eirik S, Torbjørn G, Anders M, Gisle U, Caryl G, Sigbjørn D (2022) Milestones in the early history of arthroscopy. Journal of Orthopaedic Reports. 1(3):100060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jorep.2022.100060

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Paris East, Créteil, France

    Philippe Hernigou

  2. Hopital Henri Mondor, 94000, Creteil, France

    Sami Karam

  3. Hopital Saint Denis la Reunion, 97400, Saint-Denis, France

    Issam Khaled

Authors
  1. Philippe Hernigou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sami Karam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Issam Khaled
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Data collection: PH, SK, and IK. Redaction: PH.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philippe Hernigou.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

All data are reported in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Consent to participate

No individual included in this historical paper.

Consent for publication

The authors agree to publish the manuscript.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hernigou, P., Karam, S. & Khaled, I. Scoping out the past: meniscus examination with arthroscopy; the light arrived in the knee before the end of World War I with the cystoscope, Fresnel’s lens, and Edison’s lamp. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 47, 2601–2614 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-05940-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-023-05940-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation