Office-Based Needle Arthroscopy: A Standardized Diagnostic Approach to the Knee

Abstract

Surgical knee arthroscopy is among the most commonly performed procedures in the United States. The decision to treat is often based on clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging. Equivocal results frequently require patients to undergo surgical arthroscopy, exposing the patient to inherent risks and potential surgical complications. Office-based needle arthroscopy provides an alternative approach to visualizing intra-articular anatomy and pathology in real time. The purpose of this article is to provide a standardized diagnostic approach to needle arthroscopy of the knee.