Background, Rationale and Context~Knee arthroscopy procedures provide a minimally invasive method to assess the status of the knee joint in order to repair injuries of the meniscus and articular cartilage. In the past, two or more small openings in the skin (portals) were required in order to allow the passage of both an arthroscope to provide visualization of the knee joint and the instrument used to complete the surgical repair process. However, recent innovations in arthroscopy instrumentation have resulted in the ability to use one portal for knee arthroscopy procedures with both the arthroscope and the instruments passed into the knee joint through the same portal. Both uniportal and two portal arthroscopic techniques are used currently for knee arthroscopy procedures in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Health.~Objectives~This randomized, controlled clinical trial will compare the outcomes of single portal versus two portal techniques in patients who have meniscus or articular cartilage pathology. The study hypothesis is that patients who undergo single portal arthroscopy will have less pain post-operatively, use less pain medication, and have a higher International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score at six months and one year compared to patients who undergo traditional two portal knee arthroscopy.~Methods and Measures~Design: A randomized, controlled trial~Setting: Academic Medical Center: single study site at Wake Forest Baptist Health
This randomized, controlled clinical trial will compare the outcomes of single portal versus two portal techniques in patients who have meniscus or articular cartilage pathology. The study hypothesis is that patients who undergo single portal arthroscopy will have less pain post-operatively, use less pain medication, and have a higher International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score at six months and one year compared to patients who undergo traditional two portal knee arthroscopy.