A new arthroscopic technique for revision of the posterior compartment in symptomatic total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract

Arthroscopy is effective in treating the symptomatic knee following total knee arthroplasty. A small number of patients complain about postoperative pain in the posterior compartment. Loose bodies and degenerated remnants of the menisci are the main reasons for this pain. We present a new technique for diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopy of the posterior compartments in patients with symptomatic total knee arthroplasty. After standard anterior arthroscopy, a wide circular notchplasty is performed to allow easy access to the posterior lateral compartment of the knee joint and to apply a posterolateral working portal under direct arthroscopic control. If inspection of the posteromedial compartment is necessary, the loose tissue behind the posterior cruciate ligament is resected to gain access to the posteromedial compartment.