[Arthroscopy of the traumatized knee joint in childhood].

63 children underwent diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee carried out under general anaesthesia, 46 of them presenting an acute haemarthrosis, 17 because of recurrent pain of effusion that developed under remobilisation stress two or more weeks after the accident. Arthroscopy provides--in addition to radiographs and stability test--complete evaluation of internal derangement of the knee. Clinical diagnosis based on examination and radiographs alone was confirmed by arthroscopy in only 25% in our series. Several arthrotomies would have been performed following "safe" clinical diagnosis, but could be avoided by use of arthroscopy; in other cases, diagnosis could be corrected, thus influencing preoperative planning. Arthroscopy improves diagnostic accuracy and eliminates a "wait-and-watch" policy of treatment. For several chondral and meniscal lesions, arthroscopic operation is the therapy of choice.