[Arthroscopy of the knee joint].

The clinical usefulness of arthroscopies of the knee joint has been evaluated on the basis of 282 examinations. The procedures were performed under general anesthesia with sterility precautions as for arthrotomy. In nearly all cases, direct observation of articular surfaces, synovial membranes and the menisci of the ventral two thirds of the joint was possible. The dorsal recessus, the posterior third of medial meniscus, the posterior cruciate and Baker's cyst could not be inspected. The diagnostic accuracy of arthroscopy was compared with that of double contrast arthrography. The results are as follows: incipient degenerative lesions of articular cartilage, especially chondromalacia of patella, and dislocated bucket handle tears of menisci are more accurately diagnosed by arthroscopy. For other meniscal lesions double contrast arthrography provides better results. - Arthroscopy allows the taking of synovial biopsies in cases of chronic synovitis. However, the results of histological examination are rarely of decisive value, though undetected lesions of articular cartilage have been frequently brought to light.