Arthroscopy of the knee in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Arthroscopy of 35 knee joints in 29 children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) was performed to aid in the overall evaluation of the joint and the decision on further medical or surgical treatment. Arthroscopy showed cartilage destruction earlier than radiography. In five knees, synovectomy was performed by another surgeon immediately after the arthroscopy and the findings at operation agreed with those made at arthroscopy. Thus the validity of the method seems good and arthroscopy is valuable for early information on the state of cartilage and synovial inflammation in juvenile chronic arthritic knee joints.