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Interobserver variations in intra-articular evaluation during arthroscopy of the knee

Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Middlesborough General Hospital, Ayresome Green Lane, Middlesbrough TS5 5AZ, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr A. Javed at the Orthopaedic Department, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool FY3 8NR, UK.

We carried out a prospective study in order to establish to what extent the intra-articular evaluation undertaken during arthroscopy of the knee differed between surgeons. Two senior specialist registrars and a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in knee surgery were involved. A total of 78 knee arthroscopies (78 patients) was studied. Arthroscopy was first carried out by the trainee and then by the senior author (ACWH). The intra-articular evaluation during the arthroscopy was recorded independently by a third person in the operating theatre. Data were collected to record variations in examination under anaesthesia, the morphology and pathology of the menisci and anterior cruciate ligament and the state of the articular surfaces.

The overall interobserver variation was 20% in all categories. We question the published results of intra-articular evaluation during knee arthroscopy when surgeons of different levels of experience are involved in a single study.