CHANGES IN MUSCULAR-ACTIVITY AFTER KNEE ARTHROTOMY AND ARTHROSCOPY

The object of this study was to find out whether an arthrotomy of the knee would damage joint proprioception. Twenty patients who underwent arthrotomy, and 20 patients after arthroscopy, were tested on a modifi ed ergometer and the electromyographic action of their quadriceps and hamstrings recorded The quadriceps action started later and had a shor ter duration (20 ms) after arthrotomy. The differences are statistical ly significant in intra-individual comparison both for vastus laterali s and medialis, in comparison with the normal group for only the vastu s medialis. There were no significant differences in muscle control af ter arthroscopy. These results are in favour of preferring arthroscopy to arthrotomy whenever possible.