Introduction:

Diagnosis and management of congenital and traumatic articular ailments carry an additional problem in young people. Arthroscopy has improved treatment of these injuries, which are more frequent.

Objective:

To describe the experience of arthroscopic handling in pediatric patients affected with knee disease, managed at a third level hospital in Puebla, Mexico.

Material and methods:

Descriptive, retrospective, cross sectional study performed in patients having knee disease, admitted at Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad Hospital de Traumatología y Ortopedia Puebla, from March first, 2015 to February 28th, 2018. Lysholm and IKDC functional scales and Tegner functional satisfaction scale were applied at zero, six and twelve months. Student’s t and Wilcoxon tests were used.

Results:

29 young ones of five to 17 years of age became recruited, slightly more women (62.06%). The most frequently affected limb was the left one, with 55.17%. The disorders found are: discoid meniscus, harm of the anterior cruciate ligament, idiopathic inflammatory synovitis, tumor, meniscal injury, chondral damage, patellar hyperlaxity. Lysholm and IKDC registered improvement from the first semester. Tegner registered their ability to go back to previous daily occupations. On the Lysholm scale, there was improvement at six months. On the Tegner scale there was complete incorporation to their activities (previous to the presentation and surgical intervention). At six months subsequent to treatment, the IKDC evidenced improvement and recovery, and reintegration to their activities. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) resulted, in measurements at zero, six and 12 months.

Conclusions:

Congenital and traumatic illnesses were found, the latter ones sports related. Arthroscopic approach registered positive functional results in these children.