Arthroscopy in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the knee

Arthroscopic examination and treatment of 10 knees involved with steroid-induced osteonecrosis offered an effective method of thoroughly evaluating the extent of intraarticular disease and provided a means of debriding the joints with advanced lesions, giving consistent relief of internal derangement symptoms and, in some cases, improved functional status. If this provides prolonged relief, which it seems to be accomplishing in some of the longer follow-ups, then, quite likely, we will prevent or at least postpone the next level of treatment--joint replacement.