The role of arthroscopy in children and adolescents.
A retrospective review of the first 5 years' experience with arthroscopy at the Adelaide Children's Hospital was conducted. Two hundred and twelve arthroscopies were performed in 192 patients. The average period of follow-up was 5.9 months. The most common arthroscopic finding was anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, followed by meniscal lesions, chondromalacia patellae, patellar dislocations, and osteochondritis dissecans. There was a high rate of associated lesions with ACL tears and acute patellar dislocation. Septic arthritis responded well to arthroscopic drainage and lavage. We concluded that arthroscopy is a safe and accurate diagnostic and therapeutic tool in childhood and adolescence. Arthroscopy is recommended when a joint is too painful to allow adequate clinical examination, in hemarthroses, for ACL injury, after acute patellar dislocation, and to treat septic arthritis. There is only a 56% chance of making a correct diagnosis on clinical grounds, which contrasts with an accuracy in excess of 99% with arthroscopy.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Adelaide Children's Hospital, South Australia.
K R
KR
Angel
D J
DJ
Hall
D000293:Adolescent; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007719:Knee Joint; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D010008:Osteochondritis Dissecans / Q000175:diagnosis; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries