Arthroscopy of the Knee: An Analysis of 588 Consecutive Knee Arthroscopies

The accuracy of diagnosis was tested in a prospective study of 145 patients who were arthroscoped because a meniscal tear was suspected clinically. Multiple variate analysis was used to evaluate 68 different clinical parameters. The clinical accuracy was 61% as a tear was demonstrated in 88 knees; 73 of these tears were associated with other intraarticular abnormalities. Thirteen knees were entirely normal at arthroscopy. It was possible to predict a meniscal tear in 8 out of 10 patients.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Statistical evaluation of the diagnostic criteria for meniscal tears

Abdon

Lindstrand

Thorngren

1990

Outpatient arthroscopy of the knee under local anaesthesia

Fruensgaard

Johannsen

1990

Arthroscopy of the knee was carried out under local anaesthesia in 313 outpatients, with arthroscopic surgery in 81. The procedure had to be abandoned because of apprehension in only 0.9%. With increasing experience, the number of arthroscopic meniscectomies increased from 5% to 64% of the lesions found. The method was particularly valuable in the assessment of patello-femoral pain since dynamic evaluation of patellar alignment, and the localisation of sensitive structures by palpation, was possible. The method is a safe, reliable and inexpensive alternative to the use of spinal or general anaesthesia for arthroscopy.

Arthroscopic suture of peripheral meniscal tears

Johannsen

Fruensgaard

Holm

et al. 1988

Twenty-nine patients underwent meniscal repair using an inside-to-out technique and instruments developed in our department. The tears were more than 1.5 cm in length, vertical, and located in the outer third of the meniscus. The torn segment was mobile, the remainder of the meniscus stable. After six months, fourteen out of sixteen patients achieved a good or excellent Lysholm knee score. We conclude that the technique is safe and reliable and allows better access than an arthrotomy. Care must be taken to avoid neurovascular injury.