Summary
Even in massive hemarthrosìs, arthroscopy of the acutely injured knee joint can be performed. The procedure is indicated in all cases where clinical findings and radiography cannot establish a clear diagnosis or a clear indication for operation. Hemarthrosis of unknown origin should be investigated in every case. An additional indication for arthroscopy is planned arthroscopic operation.
In a series of 1000 arthroscopies, the examination was performed in 76 patients in the acute stage after trauma. In most knee joints several injuries were found; the most frequent being tears of the menisci, cartilage lesions, ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament and tears of the joint capsule.
24 cases were treated by arthroscopic operation: 13 partial meniscectomies were performed in acute blocking of the knee and in 8 cases a detached chondral or osteochondral fragment was removed. 29 cases required arthrotomy. Post-operative morbidity of arthroscopic operation is suprisingly low. Patients were not hospitalized for diagnostic or operative arthroscopy.
Key words:
Arthroscopy - Acute trauma - Knee joint
