Historic Development of the Operative Treatment of Osteoarthritis

The operative development of the treatment of osteoarthritis starts in the middle of the 19 (th) century. A prerequisite for a successful operative management was the implementation of anesthesia and the understanding of adequate hygienic conditions with asepsis, antisepsis and sterilization. The technical developments of the industrial revolution with the use of electric light and x-ray were the start of the modern operative management of the disease. The development of adequate instruments and arthroscopic therapeutic options along with minimal invasive diagnostic tools and the individualization of arthroplasty were an enormous improvement. Since the end of the 20 (th) century, regenerative operative treatment options have successfully evolved with the goal of the treatment of early osteoarthritic changes and prevention of a fast joint deterioration.