'arthrotrauma' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'arthron' and 'trauma', where 'arthron' meant 'joint' and 'trauma' meant 'wound' or 'injury'.

'arthron' (Greek) gave the combining form 'arthro-' in New Latin/medical usage; 'trauma' (Greek τραῦμα) passed into Latin and then into English medical vocabulary. The modern English compound 'arthrotrauma' was formed by combining the medical combining form 'arthro-' with 'trauma' to denote joint injury.

Initially it meant 'joint wound' or 'joint injury'; over time the term has been used in medical contexts to cover both acute traumatic injuries and chronic overuse injuries of joints, but the core meaning of 'injury to a joint' has remained consistent.