Arthroscopic debridement of the osteoarthritic knee under local anaesthesia.

This prospective study compared the efficacy of arthroscopic debridement in osteoarthritic knees under local, general or peridural anaesthesia. Between 1997 and 2001, 201 arthroscopic debridements were performed in 197 patients (173 partial meniscectomies, 192 articular trimmings, 119 microfractures, 201 lavage procedures) in 197 patients. Patients were treated under local (Group "L", n = 67), general (Group "G", n = 65) or peridural anesthesia ( Group "P", n = 65).