Arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of meniscal lesions of the knee associated with chronic ligamentous instability.

The role of arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of meniscal lesions of the knee associated with chronic ligamentous instability is discussed and illustrated. Clinical examination and meticulous objective tests are usually sufficient to enable the surgeon to arrive at a correct assessment of the ligamentous instability, but in the associated meniscal lesion arthroscopy plays an important role in disclosing the site, extent and type of the lesion. This may be such that it is amenable to repair by subsequent open operation. However, if this is not the case, arthroscopic removal of such parts of the damaged meniscus as may be necessary to relieve symptoms can be carried out without risk of aggravating the instability by interfering with the healthy peripheral parts of the meniscus. The ideal treatment of selected cases is illustrated in an analysis of 35 such patients selected from a total case material of 456 patients including 116 arthroscopies during the same period. They have been classified into two clinical groups in which the treatment is discussed and the results reported.