Summary
Arthroscopy has proved to be a reliable method to determine acute and chronic retropatellar
damage to cartilaginous tissue. The discrepancy between clinical and radiological
findings, subjective disorders, and the actual morphological changes, seem to make
arthroscopy desirable in analysing an objective and documentable initial situation.
Long-term examinations will have to show how reliable prognostic statements are, and
how justifiable the operative or conservative measures indicated by arthroscopic examination
can be.
Key words:
Arthroscopy - Patellar chondropathy - Knee joint
