Objective:
Osteoarthritis is the most seen type of arthritis and forms more than 6% of all symptomatic knee diseases. A lot of treament modalities are used and the treatment algorithm acts from conservative precedures to surgical procedures.
Material and Methods:
Fourty patients who had symptomatic primary osteoarthritis for ACR (American College of Rheumatology) criteria, who were in mild and moderate stages for IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) and who were symptomatic in spite of at least six months of treatment were integrated to the study. The quality of life and functional evaluation of patients are done before and at least six months after the surgery by SF-36 quality of life and Lysholm scores. All patients are evaluated with patient pleasure scala at their last visits.
Results:
The increase of mean Lysholm knee score after arthroscopic debridement was statistically significiant (p<0.01). The increase of total SF-36 score and short physical health score at the last visit after arthroscopic debridement was statistically significiant (p<0.05). The mean score for patient pleasure scala was 6.6±2.24.
Conclusion:
Arthroscopic debridement can be used as an effective treatment method for patients who have mild to moderate gonarthrosis and mechanical symptoms which is resistant to the medical treatment.
Keywords: Arthroscopic surgery, osteoarthritis, knee, quality of life