Arthroscopic Treatment of Popliteus Tendinitis Using the Accessory Portal

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Arthroscopy

Background:

• Popliteus tendinitis is a condition affecting the knee, often causing pain and functional limitation.
• Understanding its pathogenesis and effective treatment is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of arthroscopic treatment for popliteus tendinitis.
• To investigate the pathogenesis and treatment strategies for popliteus tendinitis using an auxiliary extreme lateral approach.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 15 patients with popliteus tendinitis underwent arthroscopic tendon ablation via an auxiliary extreme lateral approach.
• Clinical outcomes were assessed using validated scores (Lysholm, Tegner, IKDC, VAS) at a 24-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in Lysholm (70 to 89.3), Tegner (3.0 to 4.6), and IKDC (62.3 to 80.5) scores (p < 0.01).
• Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores decreased significantly from 6.4 to 0.9 (p < 0.01).
• All patients achieved satisfactory outcomes with no loss to follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic treatment utilizing an auxiliary extreme lateral approach is effective for popliteus tendinitis.
• The procedure leads to significant pain reduction and functional knee improvement.