Recent reports on television and in the newspapers have suggested that arthroscopic surgery is not helpful for knee arthritis. A poorly-written article suggested that no more than half of patients with arthritis improved with arthroscopic surgery, and that “sham” operations had the same result. This article generated numerous responses from many experienced orthopaedic and sports medicine sources. Unfortunately, these responses were not reported in the lay press or on television.

The truth is that for patients who suffer only arthritis of the knee without mechanical symptoms, arthroscopic cleaning of the knee will not help! Most arthroscopic surgeons have long known this and do not recommend the procedure in this situation.

However, many patients with arthritis also suffer “mechanical” symptoms about the knee. Arthritis may case tears in the meniscal cartilages, or loose material in the knee. Either of these can cause mechanical symptoms of “locking” or “catching.” Arthroscopy can improve these symptoms. Evaluation should include a careful history, a physical exam, and perhaps an MRI.

As in all things in medicine, careful evaluation should lead to an individualized decision for each patient.

You should discuss these issues with your physician. Information (not reported by the media) does, in fact, support the careful, judicious use of arthroscopy in the treatment of the arthritic knee.