The value of arthroscopic debridement in knee osteoarthritis: Evaluating the parameters will help patient selection on the basis of health-quality of life

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of arthroscopic treatment in knee osteoarthritis, by means of health-related quality scale (SF-36), Lysholm knee scale and visual analog scale, in patients aged over 40 and to reveal in which patient groups the arthroscopic debridement is efficient.We studied the patients over aged 40, that were operated, between june 2007 and december 2008, with arthroscopic debridement in our department, because of the knee osteoarthritis. The patients operated bilaterally (N=2), operated again for the same knee or other knee during follow up period for any reason (N=1, in first follow up year, we performed high tibial osteotomy for the same knee) , patients were exitus or did not come to control at the end of the follow up (N=17) were excluded. Then the study was designed with 60 patients that came to control at the end of the follow up period and approved being a participant for this study. The mean age was 54,4.(40-74) There were 22 men (% 36,7) and 38 women (%63,3) in this study. The mean follow up was 20,53 months. (14-25 months)We formed different groups according to patients age, gender, body mass index, tibiofemoral angle, radiological grade (Kellgren-Lawrence), proximal metaphysial varus angle, baker?s cyst, effusion, synovitis, medial parapatellar plica, meniscectomy and type of meniscal tear. We evaluate the patients before surgery and at the end of the follow up period after surgery, by means of health-related quality scale (SF-36), Lysholm knee scale and visual analog scale. Thus, we tried to reveal, in which groups, were performed arthroscopic debridement, the outcomes of the health-releated quality score and other scores were better.In conclusion, we found that arthroscopic debridement resulted in poor outcomes in patients with advanced age, female gender, obesity (> 30 kg/m²), > 10? varus malalignment, Kellgren-Lawrence stage 3, advanced and diffuse chondral damage (Outerbridge grade 4), effusion, Baker?s cyst and synovitis. In addition we found that degenerative meniscal tears, proksimal metaphysial varus and medial parapatellar plica did not effect the outcomes. The outcomes were nearly same between the patients group that had a meniscal tear and performed meniscectomy and the patients group not. Briefly, arthroscopic debridement is an useful surgical technique for the knee osteoarthritis and increases the health quality of life in selected patients.