Arthroscopic management of disorders of the knee.

Arthroscopy and arthroscopic surgery have gained tremendous popularity within the past several years with both physicians and the general public. Arthroscopic surgery is a dramatic aid in reducing soft tissue injury, rehabilitation time, and the costs associated with surgery when applied to the knee or other large joints of the body. Although this technique is in widespread use for many acute and sports injuries, the arthroscope and developing arthroscopic surgical techniques have significant advantages in the diagnosis and treatment of common inflammatory disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint synovectomy, septic arthritis, and osteochondritis dissecans. The popularity of arthroscopic management of disorders of the knee and other major joints is well deserved, as these procedures are increasingly successful and hold promise for future major advances in the treatment of joint disease.