Arthroscopy in the diagnosis of meniscal lesions of the knee joint

Abstract

It may be said that there are both advantages and disadvantages in the determination of meniscal injury by the arthroscope. The essential disadvantage is the inability to visualize the entire meniscus. It may yet be possible by means of a suitable retractor built into the instrument to visualize better the anterior part of the meniscus. The posterior part of the meniscus cannot usually be adequately inspected, but may sometimes be. The important advantage of arthroscopy is its simplicity. Increasing experience gives increasing frequency of correctness of interpretation. The important difference in postoperative course between arthroscopy and arthrotomy can only recommend arthroscopy over exploratory arthrotomy. Arthroscopy should, of course, be limited to those cases in which clinical examination leaves no definite conclusion of internal derangement within the knee. The typical case of meniscal injury will not need this method.