Diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee in children.
Seventy-two symptomatic knees were studied in 68 patients between 2 and 17 years of age. A firm clinical diagnosis was made in all knees before arthroscopy. The clinical diagnosis and the arthroscopic findings were compared to establish the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis. This was 42% in children under 13 years old (Group 1) and 55% in children between 14 and 17 (Group 2). Possible unnecessary arthrotomy was avoided in 58% of the knees in Group 1, and 31% of the knees in Group 2. The most common "incorrect" clinical diagnosis in Group 1 was that of a discoid lateral meniscus followed by a torn medial or torn lateral meniscus in that order. The most common "incorrect" diagnosis in Group 2 was a torn medial meniscus followed by a discoid lateral meniscus. It is considered that children presenting with knee symptoms should be managed by orthopaedic surgeons who are experienced in arthroscopic diagnosis.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination