title: Interobserver variance in diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee : "Wie objektiv sind arthroskopische Befunde wirklich?".
abstract: We assessed the interindividual diagnostic variance of 39 experienced arthroscopists by the Kappa Cohen interobserver variation analysis using videotapes of eight different patients with different diagnoses. Arthroscopically normal findings showed a relatively acceptable interobserver correlation. Pathological changes, in contrast, often showed very little correlation, especially in the synovial membrane of the suprapatellar recess, in the cartilage of the femoropatellar groove and the posterior cruciate ligament. In patellar alignment there was also great interobserver variation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When comparing arthroscopic findings with other imaging techniques the above results should be taken into account. Furthermore, these results will affect the significance of medical expertise based only on pictures. In addition, medical cost billing, which is based on arthroscopic findings, has to take into account that a wrong diagnosis is possible and therefore charges will be wrong.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für allgemeine Orthopädie, Germany.|Institut für Sportmedizin, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jerosch
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für allgemeine Orthopädie, Germany.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Orthopädie und Traumatologie, St. Radboud Universitätsklinik Nimwegen, Niederlande, Netherlands.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Waal Malefijt
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Orthopädie und Traumatologie, St. Radboud Universitätsklinik Nimwegen, Niederlande, Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Kampen
keywords: Key words Arthroscopy • Knee joint • Interobserver variance