A surgical procedure in which an incision is made into a joint, usually to allow access for diagnosis, treatment, or repair.
From Greek 'arthron' (joint) + '-tomy' (surgical incision, from 'temnein' to cut). This term follows the standard medical '-tomy' naming convention seen in lobotomy, vasectomy, and colonotomy.
Before arthroscopy revolutionized surgery in the 1970s, arthrotomy was the only way to see inside a joint—surgeons had to cut the joint open, which meant longer recovery and more scarring, so the tiny camera technology was literally game-changing for orthopedic medicine.
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