Basic knee arthroscopy part 4: chondroplasty, meniscectomy, and cruciate ligament evaluation.

Knee arthroscopy is an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the management of disorders of the knee. In a series of 4 articles, the basics of knee arthroscopy are reviewed. In this article (part 4), the basics of operative knee arthroscopy are reviewed including chondroplasty and meniscectomy. Evaluation of the cruciate ligaments is also reviewed. Mastery of these techniques is critical for the treatment of the most common pathology encountered during knee arthroscopy.