Endoscopic treatment of pathological medial patella plica syndrome of the knee

Objective To evaluate the results of arthroscopic treatment of plica syndrome of the knee. Material and methods The study included 230 patients with plica syndrome of the knee. Their mean age was 40 ± 2.2 years. In 110 (47.8 %) patients, plica syndrome was combined with damage to the hyaline cartilage and in 75 (32.6 %) cases with Hoffa's fat pad hypertrophy. Forty-five (19.6 %) had synovitis and 53 (23 %) cases degenerative changes. Diagnosis and evaluation of results were based on R.M. Sherman and R.W. Jackson criteria, Lysholm Tegner Knee Scoring Scale, ultrasound, radiology, MRI and arthroscopy studies. Surgical treatment was performed with the technique developed at our clinic which included arthroscopic resection of the medial plica, shaving and coagulation. Results Postoperative period ran smoothly in 52 (22.6 %) patients. The average inpatient stay was 12 ± 2 days. Postoperative complications were recurrent synovitis (16 %), knee movement limitation (27.8 %), knee pain (49.6 %), limb muscle hypertrophy (57.4 %), and crepitus in the joint during movement (14.8 %). A combination of two or more of the complications occurred in 65 (28.3 %) patients. Knee function fully restored four to six months after the surgery. The average score on Lysholm Tegner Knee Scoring Scale after more than four years after surgery was 90 ± 5 points.