ARTHROSCOPIC ASSESSMENT OF THE POSTERIOR COMPARTMENTS OF THE KNEE VIATHE INTERCONDYLAR NOTCH - THE ARTHROSCOPISTS FIELD OF VIEW

This study was undertaken to assess the adequacy of visualization, lim its of arthroscopic field of view (FOV), and potential ''blind spots'' at the periphery of the meniscocapsular junction using standard arthr oscopic instrumentation. Five human cadaveric knees were assessed arth roscopically via standard anteromedial and anterolateral portals. Acce ss to the posterior compartments was obtained via the intercondylar no tch. FOV was maximized with first a 30-degrees and then a 70-degrees a rthroscope, and the farthest point of visualization was marked with a holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser. FOV was calculated as a p ercentage of the total meniscocapsular periphery. For the lateral comp artment, FOV averaged 100.2% with the 30-degrees versus 116.6% with th e 70-degrees arthroscope. In all knees, the entire periphery of the la teral meniscocapsular junction could be visualized with the 30-degrees arthroscope anteriorly combined with the 70-degrees arthroscope poste riorly. Medially, FOV averaged 68.9% with a 30-degrees and 88.1% with a 70-degrees arthroscope. A ''blind spot'' was present in all knees, a veraging 21.5% of the meniscocapsular periphery with a 30-degrees arth roscope anteriorly and a 70-degrees arthroscope posteriorly. Key Words : Posterior compartments-Field of view.