The indications for arthroscopic debridement for osteoarthritis of the knee

What is arthroscopic debridement? The term arthroscopic debridement as described for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee has never been clearly defined. Although the literature on this topic is vast, the lack of clear descriptions and definitions of the specific pathology being treated, the failure to specify or standardize the procedure being performed, and the lack of consensus on indications and efficacy have led to some unscientific and at times irrational debate on its role. Most would agree that the term arthroscopic debridement would include lavage and the removal of loose bodies, debris, mobile fragments of articular cartilage, unstable torn menisci, and impinging osteophytes. However, it is clear from the literature that drilling, abrasion chondroplasty, microfracture, saucerization, notchplasty, osteophyte removal, synovectomy, and arthrolysis are also performed simultaneously in many clinical series. This lack of standardization is illustrated most clearly in the example where Moseley and colleagues [1] believe that the term lavage includes meniscectomy.