Clinical, radiographic, bone scan and arthroscopic evaluation of osteoarthritis of the varus knee being considered for high tibial osteotomy

28 knees with varus osteoarthritis, in 25 patients were studied. They were 13 men and 12 women, mean age 52.1 years. In comparison arthroscopy offered the more effective assessment modality, as it detected early articular cartilage changes. This was followed by radioisotope bone scanning as it revealed early subchondral osseous changes. Radiography demonstrated later changes. Clinical assessment was effective as regards physical signs and subjective data

Meniscal injuries of the knee: clinical and arthroscopic study

104 patients diagnosed as or suspected to have a torn meniscus were subjected to arthroscopic examination before arthrotomy. The patients were classified into three groups. A:60 patients with obvious clinical diagnosis. B:34 patients, meniscal injury was suspected but clinical diagnosis inconclusive. C:10 patients with vague knee pain in which a torn meniscus could be contributory. In the whole series arthroscopic diagnosis was wrong in 8 out of 104 patients. [6 medial and 2 lateral meniscus] and on arthrotomy the meniscus was found free [diagnostic error was 7.7%]. Clinical diagnosis was wrong or inaccurate in 22 patients and in 10 patients diagnosis was not sure with minimal objective findings. In the 22 patients with wrong or inaccurate clinical diagnosis, the meniscus was found free in 16 [10 medial and 6 lateral]. In 6 other patients there was associated tear of the lateral meniscus [diagnostic error was 30.7%]