In-office arthroscopy for the evaluation of chronic knee pain: A case report

Abstract

This is a case report detailing the use of in-office needle arthroscopy (mi-eye 2™) in a patient with chronic knee pain and inconclusive magnetic resonance imaging findings. The patient is a 40-year-old male who presented to our clinic after an extended history of right knee pain along the medial aspect with previous failed treatments. Magnetic resonance imaging without contrast had demonstrated full-thickness chondral fissuring of the lateral patellar facet, mild abnormal signals of the proximal patellar tendon and Hoffa’s fat pad, and intact anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament. The patient was previously treated with an ultrasound-guided injection of 2 cm 3 of 1% lidocaine without epinephrine and 1 cm 3 of Kenalog-40 and scheduled for follow-up. At follow-up, clinical examination showed antalgic gait, minimal tenderness along medial joint line, medial pain in deep flexion, and no pain when in varus or valgus. Due to continued discomfort with a negative magnetic resonance imaging, in-office diagnostic arthroscopy was performed using mi-eye 2 revealing a tear of the mid-body of the medial meniscus. The patient subsequently underwent arthroscopic repair and is recovering well with complete resolution of medial joint pain. This report highlights the clinical utility of in-office diagnostic arthroscopy in the management of patients with persistent knee pain and negative or equivocal findings on magnetic resonance imaging.