title: Arthroscopy of the knee in pre-adolescent children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arthroscopic operations performed in the pediatric age group constitute less than 5% of all arthroscopies. Diagnostic accuracy is reported to be lower than the procedures in adult patients. The incidence of pathologies also varies in the literature. We aimed at assessing the diagnostic accuracy of arthroscopy and review the incidence of pathologies in pre-adolescent patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period April 1990-January 2002, 50 pre-adolescent patients underwent knee arthroscopy after clinical and radiological assessment. Average age was 10.24 (1-13) with a male-to-female ratio of 34:16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Discoid lateral meniscus was found to be the most common pathology encountered in 17 cases followed by infection and synovitis in 8 cases each. Diagnostic accuracy of arthroscopy correlated with preoperative clinical and radiologic evaluation was 90%. Arthroscopy findings were negative in two cases. Two cases of plica syndrome and one case of chondral injury were mistaken for medial meniscal tear. Final diagnosis was familial Mediterranean fever in one case of synovitis and knee fusion was performed at follow-up due to progressive degenerative changes. No other patient required reoperation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopy is a safe procedure with minor morbidity allowing treatment of various intraarticular knee disorders. Diagnostic accuracy of the procedure may increase with careful preoperative work-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Balcali, 01330, Adana, Turkey. ysarpel@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yaman
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sarpel
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toğrul
authors.forename: Ismet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Mahir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gülşen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome