Unnecessary arthroscopies.
A review of the results of arthroscopies on patients taken from an 'open access' service waiting list has been carried out. One-third of all arthroscopies proved to be negative. Accuracy of clinical diagnosis was not related to the clinical grade of the examining doctor. The excess annual cost to the Northern Ireland Orthopaedic Service of unnecessary arthroscopies may have been of the order of 89,000 pounds.
Tait
G R
GR
Queen's University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, UK.
Maginn
P
P
Macey
A C
AC
Beverland
D E
DE
Mollan
R A
RA
D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009985:Orthopedics; D012189:Retrospective Studies