[Treatment of gonarthrosis with arthroscopic abrasion]

From 1988 to 1992 at the Department of orthopaedic surgery, School of medicine, University of Zagreb 21 arthroscopic knee joint abrasions were performed as palliative treatment of osteoarthritis. There were 13 male patients (61.9%) and eight female patients (38.1%); the age of the patients ranged from 17 to 69 years (the average of 42.2 years). The femorotibial angle ranged from -2 to 10 degrees (the average of 5.3 degrees). The average degree of osteoarthritis was 2.1 and of chondromalacia 3.5 degrees. In the majority of cases the abrasion was performed in the medial femoral condyle and the patella; in a smaller number of cases it was performed in the medial tibial condyle, and in the lateral tibial condyle in only one patient. Also, debridement was performed in most of the patients; in four patients cleansing of the medial menisci was made, while in two patients loose joint bodies had to be removed. The average follow-up time was 2.8 years, ranging from 12 months to 5 years. According to HSS score, treatment results were excellent and very good in 15 patients (71.4%), satisfactory in four patients (19.0%) and poor in two patients (9.5%). The authors conclude that the arthroscopic abrasion is good, non-invasive palliative method of treatment of primary knee osteoarthritis. The arthroscopic abrasion method yields good short-term results (from 2 to 5 years) in view of reducing pain and improving joint function.