During the period from June 1985 to July 1989, eighteen patients with degenerative joint disease of the knee were treated by arthroscopic debridement. The average age was 64.8 years with a range from 51 to 76 years and the average follow-up period was 19.1 months (range, 6-48 months). We removed mechanical irritants like torn menisci or loose bodies and attempted to create drill hole perforations in sclerotic lesions on the femoral and tibial condyles. Of the 18 patients who underwent arthroscopic debridement, 17 patients were improved, while only one patient had no change. The procedure is only palliative, not in any way curative, but many authors have reported good results using the arthroscope to debride irritants from osteoarthritic knees. The arthroscopic approach decreases incision size and simplifies postoperative rehabilitation. Arthroscopic debridement of the knee joint can be recommended as a useful treatment for patients with degenerative arthritis of the knee.
