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MRI CAN PREVENT UNNECESSARY ARTHROSCOPY

¹ Lydgate Walk, Westbury Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 4LT, UK.
² Staffordshire General Hospital, Weston Road, Stafford ST16 3SA, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr J. Travlos.

We compared the practice of four orthopaedic consultants as regards the use of MRI and arthroscopy to diagnose problems of the knee. In one year 324 arthroscopies and 66 MR scans were performed for this purpose.

We found that MRI is a reliable and cheaper alternative to ‘diagnostic arthroscopy’. We consider that patients with definite clinical signs merit an early ‘therapeutic arthroscopy’, but that all other knees should be investigated by MRI. This policy spares patients from unnecessary and expensive surgery.

Arthroscopy for diagnostic purposes should be used only with a specific purpose. Modern MRI can and should replace "having a look".