Clinical Study on the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Arthroscopic Debridement and Lateral Release of the Patella

Objective:To investigate the treatment results of knee osteoarthritis with arthroscopic debridement and lateral release of the patella. Methods: Thirty-two patients with knee osteoarthritis were 13 male and 19 female and had an averge age of 57 years(range, 48～69 years). All patients underwent a arthroscopic debridement and lateral release of the patella. The rehabilitation programe was performed for the patients postoperatively. Results: All patients but one reported subjective satisfactory results with 28 months following-up in average. The effective rate was 96%. Lysholm knee score: 54±12 preoperative; 87±6 postoperative( P 0.01).Conclusion: Arthroscopic debridement and lateral release of the patella could be an effective surgical procedure to alleviate pain of the knee in patients with osteoarthritis so long as the tight lateral retinaculum of the patella and limitation of a medial patella glide had been evaluated thoroughly preoperatively.