The first computer was approximately 1,800 square feet and weighed over 50,000 pounds, a far cry from what we carry today in a laptop bag or even a pocket. Just as computers have become more compact and versatile, scopes used for investigating horses’ joints have also slimmed down, making them a powerful tool for a multitude of novel uses.

Some of the newest arthroscopes, dubbed the "18-gauge needle arthroscope," for their equivalent size, measure a mere 1.3 mm in diameter, only 100 mm in length, and are disposable.

“One way that ‘needle’ arthroscopes can be used is to diagnose stifle problems,” said David Frisbie, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR, a professor of equine surgery at Colorado State University’s Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, who recently completed a study on the topic.

Frisbie believes stifle problems account for an estimated 40% or more of injuries in sport horses, both English and Western