OBJECTIVETo explore the indications of arthroscope for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and investigate the correlation between knee osteoarthritis imaging and effects of arthroscope.

METHODSFrom 2005.8 to 2008.4, 86 patients with knee osteoarthritis underwent arthroscope examination and treatment. Among the patients, 44 patients were male, and 42 patients were female, ranging in age from 46 to 67 years, averaged 56.3 years. Arthrodial cartilage of knee was graded by ICRS MR, and by Kellgern Laqrence X-ray. All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 30 months. The Lysholm score was evaluated at the follow-up time.

RESULTSAmong 86 knees in 86 cases, cartilage injury degree of knees was graded as follows: grade 4 in 30 cases, grade 3 in 22 cases, grade 2 in 20 cases, grade 1 in 12 cases, grade 0 in 2 cases, mean grade (2.77 +/- 1.138). Postoperative Lysholm score ranged from 59 to 100, averaged (95.17 +/- 7.556), Kendall's correlation coefficient was -0.089, P = 0.317. There was no correlations between cartilage injury degree and Lysholm score. X-ray of knees was graded as follows: grade 4 in 0 cases, grade 3 in 24 cases, grade 2 in 38 cases, grade 1 in 17 cases, grade 0 in 7 cases, mean grade was (2.13 +/- 0.67), the Kendall's correlation coefficient was -0.851 with negative correlations (P = 0.036) between postoperative Lysholm score and K/L grade.

CONCLUSIONThere is no correlation between the grade of knee cartilage injury confirmed by MRI (1.5T) and effects of arthroscopy, and the grade is not a gold standard as an operation indication in arthroscope procedure. The K/L grade in X-ray had important effects.