Electrosurgical methods for arthroscopic meniscectomy: A review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To outline the development of electrosurgical (radiofrequency) devices, explain the basic principles, and review the current orthopaedic literature regarding the application of electrosurgery to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.


METHODS
The history and principles of electrosurgery were obtained from various pertinent texts and journal articles. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE; reviewed articles consisted of articles in the English language cataloged between 1966 and January 1999.


RESULTS
The history and principles of electrosurgery are reviewed. The articles pertaining to arthroscopic electrosurgical meniscectomy are discussed with a separate discussion on the potential complications of using radiofrequency energy for meniscal ablation, including articular cartilage damage, osteonecrosis, and damage caused by irrigant.


CONCLUSIONS
Electrosurgery has been shown to be an effective tool in arthroscopic meniscectomy. Further research and refinement is warranted because it may show superiority to other methods in certain situations.
Polousky
J D
JD
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Hedman
T P
TP
Vangsness
C T
CT
D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049711:History, Modern 1601-; D006801:Humans; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D009626:Terminology as Topic