[Indications and limits of arthroscopic management of intra-articular fractures of the knee joint].

Fractures of the plateau of the tibia and of the trochlea of the femoral condyle are intra-articular fractures of a major weight-bearing joint. The mechanism of the injury--a combination of vertical thrust and twisting--leads to various types of fracture and in particular to considerable damage to the cartilaginous portions of the joint. In addition there is often extensive damage to the soft tissues surrounding the joint, making necessary an even more sophisticated technique for the fixation of this type of fracture. These facts induced us to consider whether fractures of this type might be an indication for arthroscopic reconstruction of articular surfaces in 24 cases of intra-articular knee joint fractures; these were mainly type 1 to type 4 fractures in Schatzker's classification, and 2 Hoffa fractures of the femoral condyle. The low complication rate and the good early results obtained would seem to justify the use of this technically demanding procedure in carefully selected patients.