Office-Based Small Bore Needle Arthroscopy of the Knee

Abstract

Advanced imaging, such as MRI, can sometimes provide inconclusive results with knee pathology, leaving both patients and providers with a diagnostic challenge. In-office arthroscopy is a newer, low-risk, diagnostic procedure that allows the physician to use a small bore needle arthroscope to view the intra-articular anatomy of the joint. The patient and provider are provided with immediate results of the pathology found. This pre- vents having to undergo repeat imaging, which can be a costly, time-consuming, and inconclusive process. Ideal indications are patients who are claustrophobic, have previ- ously undergone meniscal or chondral surgery, or whose MRI results are inconclusive. This chapter will review the background, indications, technique, and risks of this novel procedure.