title: Arthroscopy in the diagnosis of acute injuries to the knee joint.
abstract: This study evaluates the role of arthroscopy in the diagnosis of acute injuries to the knee. One hundred and fifty four patients with a suspected ligament injury or effusion of the knee joint underwent arthroscopy. A haemarthrosis was present in 82% and a bloodless effusion in 10%. Meniscal tears were found in 19% of the knees. Fresh ligament ruptures were present in 71% and an associated haemarthrosis in 95% of these; 65% were partial tears. The commonest isolated lesion was a complete or partial tear of the anterior cruciate, which occurred in 15% of cases. More than one ligament injury occurred in 56%, the commonest combination being tears of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. In a high percentage of cases, arthroscopy revealed unsuspected injuries of significance in management. In 39%, an open or closed procedure followed arthroscopy. There were no complications from the diagnostic arthroscopy. We conclude that arthroscopy provides a more accurate diagnosis than clinical examination alone, and is especially valuable for assessing the patient with a haemarthrosis of the knee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Horsens Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Johannsen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fruensgaard
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006395:Hemarthrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012421:Rupture; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries