title: The value of knee arthroscopy in patients with severe radiological osteoarthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was performed to assess the value of knee arthroscopy in patients with radiological signs of severe osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 104 patients (50 men, 54 women, average age 60 years) with radiological knee osteoarthritis grade III/IV were followed up after knee arthroscopy between May 1989 and November 1996. The average follow-up time was 5.4 years after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant ( p<0.01) increase in the Lysholm score was found, ranging from 40 points before arthroscopy to 69 points at the assessment. A total of 84 patients (81%) reported an increase in their activities of daily living, 44 patients (43%) were still without any complaints. The total outcome was rated very good or good by 67 patients (65%). Only 21 patients (20%) required further surgery before the assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knee arthroscopy is a valuable treatment for patients with pain, swelling, and radiological signs of severe osteoarthritis. It improves the patients' activities of daily living and helps to postpone further surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Anna-Von-Borries-Str. 1-7, 30625 Hannover, Germany. bohnsack@annastift.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bohnsack
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lipka
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rühmann
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmolke
authors.forename: Carl Joachim
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wirth
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome