Electrosurgical methods for arthroscopic meniscectomy: A review of the literature

Purpose: To outline the development of electrosurgical (radiofrequency) dev ices, explain the basic principles, and review the current orthopaedic Lite rature regarding the application of electrosurgery to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Materials and Methods: The history and principles of electros urgery were obtained from various pertinent texts and journal articles. A l iterature search was performed using MEDLINE; reviewed articles consisted o f articles in the English language cataloged between 1966 and January 1999. Results: The history and principles of electrosurgery are reviewed. The ar ticles pertaining to arthroscopic electrosurgical meniscectomy are discusse d with a separate discussion on the potential complications of using radiof requency energy for meniscal ablation, including articular cartilage damage , osteonecrosis, and damage caused by irrigant. Conclusion: Electrosurgery has been shown to be an effective tool in arthroscopic meniscectomy. Furthe r research and refinement is warranted because it may show superiority to o ther methods in certain situations.