Short-term benefit of arthroscopic washout in degenerative arthritis of the knee.

Over a 4-year period, 55 consecutive knee arthroscopies were performed on 54 patients with symptomatic mild to moderate osteoarthritis. There were 30 female patients and the average patient age was 60.9 years. The average follow-up period was 29.6 months. All patients underwent diagnostic arthroscopy and washout. Further procedures including removal of loose bodies and partial meniscal resection were necessary in 19 patients. There were no significant postoperative complications. Thirty-seven patients had subjective improvement in symptoms. The average duration of benefit was 25.5 months. Arthroscopy and appropriate debridement of the degenerative knee results in significant subjective improvement. This relatively minor procedure can delay or indeed obviate the need for reconstructive surgery.