Clinical arthroscopic correlation in knee pathologies

Abstract

Arthroscopy is a diagnostic method to visualize the intraarticular structures. Its development has facilitated the therapeutic management of different conditions. It is based on the introduction of an optical element within the joint and its relaxation in order to visualize internal structures. Arthroscopic surgery has progressed rapidly in recent years, the high degree of clinical accuracy and low morbidity encourages the use of this technique. A prospective study on the correlation between clinical diagnosis and arthroscopic diagnosis in diseases of the knee was conducted at the Arnaldo Milian Castro Provincial University Hospital during the period from January 2009 to December 2010. The universe was made up of all patients who underwent arthroscopic procedures (459) in this period, after attending to specialized consultation where they were evaluated by trained medical staff. After 30 years of age, the knee conditions increase in frequency. In our study, the group of 41-50 years of age was the most prevalent with 35.3% of cases, but it is striking that the groups aged 31-40 and those 51 and over also show a high morbidity. There was a female predominance of almost 15% more compared to males. The analysis of the causes could be the subject of another study in the future. In our survey, 90% of clinical diagnoses were corroborated with the arthroscopic procedure. Other conditions associated with the previously proposed clinical diagnosis were also found in seven patients.