Knee arthroscopy: a follow-up of patients initially not recommended for further surgery.

Arthroscopy alone was carried out on 110 patients. The status of 97 of these patients was determined after a follow-up period of 17 months (average time) after arthroscopy. Eighty patients had no further surgery while 17 did. Four procedures were meniscectomy owing to a missed diagnosis. Arthroscopy was considered to be 96% accurate in determining the need for surgical treatment. Chondromalacia, though easily recognized by arthroscopy, is predominantly a clinical decision for surgical intervention.