Posterolateral arthritis of the knee

Arthritis in the posterolateral quadrant of the knee presents typical arthroscopic findings. With careful history, physical examination, and appropriate radiographs, it can be an office diagnosis. The history, physical findings, and arthroscopic findings in 15 patients with this problem were reviewed. Symptoms of posterolateral pain, give-way, and pain with stairclimbing were common. The only frequent physical findings were those of pain with the lateral meniscal entrapment test or pain with the pivot shift test. No ligamentous instability was noted. Weight-bearing radiographs demonstrated severe lateral chondral loss in flexion, but not in extension. Arthroscopic findings were typical. Previous injury to the posterior portion of the lateral meniscus was common. This seems to be a traumatic, rather than a degenerative, process. Three patients had varus-producing osteotomy of the distal femur. This was not effective in relieving their symptoms.