Abstract
Background Selective joint denervation has become a reliable palliative treatment, especially
for painful joints in the upper and lower extremity.
Methods This article highlights the life and work of Nikolaus Rüdinger (1832–1896) who first
described joint innervation which became the basis of later techniques of surgical
joint denervation. The historical evolution of this method is outlined.
Results Rüdinger made a unique career from apprentice barber to military surgeon and anatomy
professor in Munich, Germany. His first description of articular innervation of temporomandibular,
shoulder, elbow, wrist, finger, sacroiliac, hip, knee, ankle, foot, and toe joints
in 1857 stimulated the subsequent history of surgical joint denervation. Comparing
his investigations with modern joint denervation methods, developed by pioneers like
Albrecht Wilhelm or A. Lee Dellon, shows his great exactitude and anatomical correspondence
despite different current terminology. Clinical series of modern surgical joint denervations
reveal success rates of up to 80% with reliable long-term results.
Conclusion The history of joint denervation with Rüdinger as its important protagonist offers
inspiring insights into the evolution of surgical techniques and exemplifies the value
of descriptive functional anatomy, even if surgical application may not have been
realized until a century later.
Keywords
Nikolaus Rüdinger - joint innervation - surgery - denervation - history
