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Is arthroscopy always necessary?: a waiting list review
Health Trends
|January 9, 1989
Summary
Many patients awaiting knee arthroscopy experience symptom resolution, particularly those with degenerative conditions. Ligamentous instability, however, often prompts continued desire for surgical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Knee Arthroscopy Outcomes
Background:
- Long waiting lists for knee arthroscopy are common.
- Patient symptom progression and desire for surgery over time require evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess symptom changes and surgical intent in patients awaiting knee arthroscopy for over one year.
- To identify factors influencing patient decisions regarding knee surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 87 patients on a knee arthroscopy waiting list.
- Assessment of symptom severity and surgical desire at follow-up.
Main Results:
- 69% of patients with degenerative disease or meniscal tears without instability reported symptom remission.
- 90% of patients with ligamentous instability opted for surgery, regardless of meniscal tears.
- 14.5% of initially reviewed patients had already undergone surgery.
Conclusions:
- Symptom remission is frequent in patients awaiting knee arthroscopy, especially those without instability.
- Patient selection for knee arthroscopy should consider symptom severity and underlying pathology.
- Outcomes of knee arthroscopy may be influenced by pre-operative patient characteristics and symptom evolution.