title: The value of arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Arthroscopy of 49 knee joints in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) or suspected JRA is described. A large number of patients had a monoarticular involvement with a difficult differential diagnostic problem. Arthroscopy gave important additional diagnostic information. Arthroscopy gives accurate information regarding cartilage destruction and severity of synovitis. In some patients with JRA arthroscopy was a final tool in deciding whether or not to do a synovectomy. Arthroscopy is a safe examination which gives important additional diagnostic information in patients with JRA.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies