Arthroscopic debridement for osteoarthritis of the knee: a seven years follow-up study.

We reviewed 32 knees with osteoarthritis of the knee treated by either arthroscopic debridement in association with drilling the subchondral bone or arthroscopic debridement alone and followed for 2.5 to 11 years. Eighteen knees had arthroscopic debridement and drilling the subchondral bone, and 14 knees had arthroscopic debridement alone. In the group treated with arthroscopic debridement and drilling the subchondral bone, 55.6% had good to excellent results, 22.2% had fair results, and 22.2% had poor results. In the group that had arthroscopic debridement alone, 57.2% had good to excellent results, 35.7% had fair results, and 7.1% had poor results. There was better relief of pain in the group with arthroscopic debridement alone.