THE ROLE OF OFFICE-BASED NEEDLE ARTHROSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTRA-ARTICULAR KNEE SYMPTOMS: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are serious knee injuries, whether partial or total. ACL injuries are most typically diagnosed in clinic settings using a combination of a detailed history, physical examination and corroborated with an appropriate imaging modality. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly sensitive for identifying intra-articular knee pathology. This combination has been demonstrated to be effective and non-invasive in diagnosing ACL injury. The reliability of MRI for diagnostic purposes, on the other hand, is not always ideal. This might be due to various factors, including low-quality MRI magnets, post-surgical tissue changes, metallic artifacts, patient movement during the procedure, and static rather than dynamic structural evaluation. Nevertheless, office-based diagnostic arthroscopy offers an alternative to imaging modalities by allowing clinicians to visualize large joints safely, with painless, high-quality images, and time-efficient approaches. Furthermore, the risk of major and minor complications of office-based diagnostic arthroscopy is comparable to or lower than any standard office-based injection. This is the first office-based needle arthroscopy (OBNA) performed in Malaysia to evaluate intra-articular knee symptoms. Thus, we aim to understand and overview OBNA to identify intra-articular knee pathology by reporting this case report.