[Reliability of arthroscopy of the knee (author's transl)]

After recalling different indications of arthroscopy of the knee, the authors evaluate the use and the reliability of this technique in 109 consecutive examinations. Both clinical diagnosis and proposed surgical treatment are totally or partially modified in more than half of the cases out of 79 patients 16 arthrotomies are avoided. Overall reliability is only 85%, but attains 94% in the last 59 examinations. The value of arthroscopy and arthrography are compared (90% of reliability for arthroscopy, 15 mistakes out of 37 arthrographies). Arthroscopic control examinations may in some cases help to evaluate results of surgical treatment in chondromalacia patellae.