Arthroscopy in the diagnostics and treatment of non-acute knee disorders in children

Arthroscopy of the knee in pre-adolescent children

INTRODUCTION

Arthroscopic operations performed in the pediatric age group constitute less than 5% of all arthroscopies. Diagnostic accuracy is reported to be lower than the procedures in adult patients. The incidence of pathologies also varies in the literature. We aimed at assessing the diagnostic accuracy of arthroscopy and review the incidence of pathologies in pre-adolescent patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the period April 1990-January 2002, 50 pre-adolescent patients underwent knee arthroscopy after clinical and radiological assessment. Average age was 10.24 (1-13) with a male-to-female ratio of 34:16.

RESULTS

Discoid lateral meniscus was found to be the most common pathology encountered in 17 cases followed by infection and synovitis in 8 cases each. Diagnostic accuracy of arthroscopy correlated with preoperative clinical and radiologic evaluation was 90%. Arthroscopy findings were negative in two cases. Two cases of plica syndrome and one case of chondral injury were mistaken for medial meniscal tear. Final diagnosis was familial Mediterranean fever in one case of synovitis and knee fusion was performed at follow-up due to progressive degenerative changes. No other patient required reoperation.

CONCLUSION

Arthroscopy is a safe procedure with minor morbidity allowing treatment of various intraarticular knee disorders. Diagnostic accuracy of the procedure may increase with careful preoperative work-up.

Meniscal tears in children and adolescents: results of operative treatment

The goal of this study was to evaluate the results of meniscal repair in children and adolescents by a retrospective case series. Twelve arthroscopic-assisted meniscal repairs were performed on 12 patients younger than 17 years of age (8-16 years, mean 13 years). The anterior cruciate ligament was torn in three cases. Eight lesions involved the lateral meniscus and four involved the medial meniscus; there were no discoid menisci. All patients were seen at an average of 3 years 1 month follow-up (range, 2-4 years 10 months). Three patients required subsequent surgery for partial meniscectomy. We evaluated the remaining nine patients by clinical examination, International Knee Documentation Committee clinical score, Lyshölm score, Tegner's activity, and by computed tomography arthrogram or magnetic resonance imaging. Seven patients were asymptomatic at follow-up, two reported occasional pain, and none had experienced symptoms of locking. Their average Lyshölm score and Tegner's activity were 96.3 and 6.6, respectively. Eight patients were International Knee Documentation Committee A and one was International Knee Documentation Committee B. Healing status was assessed at follow-up in eight patients by computed tomography arthrogram or magnetic resonance imaging: the tear was considered as completely healed in three patients. The apparent failure rate was 66%. Indications for meniscal repair in children are not actually established. The pejorative outcome of meniscectomy at a young age has led us to consider symptomatic meniscal tears for repair. Objective results of meniscal healing are poor. The method to assess healing of the repaired menisci objectively is still a matter of debate.

Diagnostic performance of clinical examination and selective magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of intraarticular knee disorders in children and adolescents

To determine the diagnostic performances of clinical examination and selective magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of intraarticular knee disorders in children and adolescents we compared them with arthroscopic findings in a consecutive series of pediatric patients (< or = 16 years old). Stratification effects by patient age and magnetic resonance imaging center were examined. There were 139 lesions diagnosed clinically, 128 diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, and 135 diagnosed arthroscopically. There was no significant difference between clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging with respect to agreement with arthroscopic findings (clinical examination, 70.3%; magnetic resonance imaging, 73.7%), overall sensitivity (clinical examination, 71.2%; magnetic resonance imaging, 72.0%), and overall specificity (clinical examination, 91.5%; magnetic resonance imaging, 93.5%). Stratified analysis by diagnosis revealed significant differences only for sensitivity of lateral discoid meniscus (clinical examination, 88.9%; magnetic resonance imaging, 38.9%) and specificity of medial meniscal tears (clinical examination, 80.7%; magnetic resonance imaging, 92.0%). For magnetic resonance imaging, children younger than 12 years old had significantly lower overall sensitivity (61.7% versus 78.2%) and lower specificity (90.2% versus 95.5%) compared with children 12 to 16 years old. There was no significant effect of magnetic resonance imaging center. In conclusion, selective magnetic resonance imaging does not provide enhanced diagnostic utility over clinical examination, particularly in children, and should be used judiciously in cases where the clinical diagnosis is uncertain and magnetic resonance imaging input will alter the treatment plan.