Arthroscopy and arthrography of the knee: a comparison study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Radiology

Background:

• Diagnostic accuracy of imaging modalities for knee injuries is crucial for effective treatment planning.
• Knee arthroscopy and arthrography are established diagnostic tools for evaluating internal knee derangements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of knee arthroscopy versus knee arthrography.
• To identify limitations and requirements for optimal arthrographic interpretation in knee diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 200+ knee arthroscopies (1975-1978) for accuracy.
• Analysis of 79 knee arthrograms, with 39 confirmed by arthrotomy.
• Review of technically acceptable incorrect arthrograms against arthrotomy findings.

Main Results:

• Knee arthroscopy demonstrated 91% total accuracy.
• Knee arthrography showed only 38% total accuracy.
• Partially correct arthrograms were noted, but none completely correlated with arthrotomy findings.

Conclusions:

• Knee arthroscopy offers superior diagnostic accuracy compared to arthrography.
• Arthrography's effectiveness is highly dependent on optimal equipment, technique, and radiologist expertise.
• While complementary, arthrography's role in knee diagnostics necessitates stringent quality control.