The impact of arthroscopic surgery on the management of disorders of the knee.

Abstract

Five hundred consecutive arthroscopies were studied and the management proposed after initial clinical and radiological assessment was compared with the final management after arthroscopy. The differences were analysed. Open operation was deferred in 96% of 312 patients in whom it would have been performed, and had no influence on management in the remaining 4%. A condition was found and treated arthroscopically in 63% of 188 knees thought unlikely to have a treatable disorder. The findings are compared with those of an earlier series, and the impact of arthroscopic surgery was found to be more far reaching than diagnostic arthroscopy alone. The indications for arthrotomy during the period of study were confined to ligament reconstruction, patellectomy, and joint replacement.