Between 1983 and 1991, we treated 10 knees of 8 patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the knee with arthroscopic Herbert screw fixastidon. The patients´ average age at the time of surgery was 120 and the average follow-up was 2 years and 3
months.
The location of lesions were medial condvle in 7 knees, lateral condyle in 2 knees, and patella in 1. The types of lesion were intact articular cartilage in 2 knees, detached articular cartilage in 7 knees, and loose fragment in 1.
A second-look arthroscopy was performed on 4 knees to remove the Hebert screw. 3 of the 4 knees had a solid ost4eochondral fragment to probing after screw removal, and 1 d3emonstrated minimal fragment motion to probing after screw removal, 1 knee
showed
depressijon of fragment. Juxtaarticular tibial surface was not eroded in all 8 patients.
Roentgenograms demonstrated 6 of the 10 lesions had complete union, 2 lesions, articular incongruity, 1 lesion, radiolucent line, and 1 lesion, mild degenerative changes. The average healing time was 10.2 weeks (8 ~ 16 weeks). According to the
criteria
of the Hughston rating scale for Osteochondritis Dissecans, there were 3 excellent, 5 good, 2 fair, no pjoor, and no failure.
The results suggest that arthroscopic Herbert screw fixation is a useful and effective procedure for osteochondritis dissecans of the knee.
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