title: Arthroscopic findings in the knees of preadolescent children: report of 23 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review was to correlate the preoperative clinical diagnoses and the diagnostic arthroscopic findings in preadolescents with knee problems. We also studied the incidence of different types of knee pathology in this age group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three preadolescents, 13 girls and 10 boys under the age of 13 years, presenting with mechanical knee problems underwent knee arthroscopy after clinical assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptomatic plica synovialis was found to be the most frequent pathology (n = 8). This pathology was far more common in girls compared with boys. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (n = 4) followed symptomatic plica synovialis in frequency. This was an isolated injury in all cases. The arthroscopic findings were negative in 4 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 61% of preadolescent patients, the clinical diagnoses and arthroscopic findings were compatible and correct. The main error tended to be misdiagnosis of meniscal pathology (4 patients) and overdiagnosis (5 cases of negative arthroscopy).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, England.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Faraj
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schilders
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martens
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000074402:Synovectomy; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries