Introduction: Clinical examination of acute knee injury in childhood is often difficult and therefore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) serves as an additional diagnostic tool. The aim of the present study was to evaluate on the one hand the indications for diagnostic arthroscopy and on the other hand the indications for MRI.
Methods: Of the children treated between 1990 and 1999, 87 (group 1) underwent arthroscopy after clinical examination. Between 2000 and 2006 (group 2) 83 patients were examined using MRI after clinical examination and 53 were subsequently submitted to arthroscopy.
Results: In group 1 the clinical diagnosis was verified by arthroscopy in 79%. In group 2 the clinical and arthroscopic diagnoses were consistent in 60% of the patients. The MRI diagnosis was correctly recognized for patella dislocation in all cases, for ligament injuries in 83% and for meniscus injuries in 56%. Due to the application of MRI before arthroscopy the fraction of diagnostic arthroscopies could be reduced from 22% to 13%.
Conclusion: The number of diagnostic arthroscopies in childhood can be reduced by application of MRI.