Diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee in children and adolescents.

There is a definite role for arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of problem knees in children and adolescents. In this series, the largest reported to date, significant intraarticular pathology frequently existed in both preadolescent and adolescent groups. Three hundred ten knee arthroscopies in 285 children were reviewed. Preoperative clinical diagnoses were correlated with arthroscopic findings. In preadolescents (12 years old and younger), only 55% of preoperative clinical diagnoses were confirmed at surgery. Thirty-five percent of this group were found to have additional pathology not anticipated preoperatively. In adolescents (13 to 18 years old), 70% of clinical diagnoses were confirmed arthroscopically. Additional pathology was also found on arthroscopic examination in 25% of this group.