Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology
Volume 24, Issue 1 , Pages 47-50, February 2010

Arthroscopy as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis

  • David T. Felson, MD, MPH (Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. X200, 650 Albany Street, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MA 02118, USA.

Boston University Clinical Epidemiology Research and Training Unit, Boston, MA, USA

Since surfaces become irregular and debris from cartilage and meniscus gets released into the joint cavity of osteoarthritic joints, washing away this debris and attendant crystals, smoothing rough surfaces and repairing tears might help patients with disease. Such interventions are accomplished during an arthroscopy, when a fibre-optic endoscope and surgical instruments are inserted into the knee. While initial uncontrolled case series suggested that arthroscopy alleviated pain in patients with osteoarthritis, large randomised trials have suggested that arthroscopy has a limited role as a treatment of osteoarthritis.

Keywords: knee osteoarthritis, arthroscopy

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S1521-6942(09)00083-7

doi:10.1016/j.berh.2009.08.002

Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology
Volume 24, Issue 1 , Pages 47-50, February 2010

Article Tools