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Purpose of the Study: In this retrospective study we analysed the major indications for knee arthroscopy and the diagnoses made using it in children and adolescents who had sustained knee joint injuries., Material and Methods: A total of 731 knee joint artroscopies were performed and retrospectively evaluated in patients under 19 years of age. The group included patients with knee joint injuries treated at our department in the 2000-2010 period. There were 413 boys (58%) and 300 girls (42%) with an average age of 14 years and 2 months. The clinical diagnosis was compared with the arthroscopic diagnosis., Results: The results of our comparative study were divided into three groups. The clinical diagnosis was fully confirmed in 62%, partially confirmed in 17% (combined injuries) and was wrong in 21% of the patients. In this group, the most frequent diagnosis made by arthroscopy was injury to the lateral meniscus. Arthroscopy revealed patellar dislocations in 18%, osteochondral and cartilage lesions in 16%, plica injuries in 15 %, medial meniscus injuries in 14%, anterior cruciate ligament lesions in 12% and lateral meniscus injury in 8% of the patients., Discussion: With the number of knee injuries in children and adolescents increasing every year, the role of arthroscopy in their diagnosis and treatment is becoming increasingly important. The results of our analysis showed gradual improvement in clinical outcomes and subjective evaluation of the arthroscopic technique in children and adolescents with the history of knee injury. Some authors report difficulties with the pre-operative diagnosis at this age; our results were notably better., Conclusion: Knee arthroscopy is a safe and effective method of a high diagnostic and therapeutic value and its use in children and adolescents should be recommended.

Purpose of the Study: To review the current methods of operative management of post-traumatic chronic radial head dislocation in chronic Monteggia lesions in children., Material and Methods: Post-traumatic chronic dislocation of the proximal radius usually occurs following missed or ineffectively treated Monteggia fractures. The radial head is usually dislocated anteriorly. We performed open reduction of the radial head, reconstruction of the annular ligament and corrective osteotomy of the ulna in eleven patients. Three of our patients underwent ulnar lengthening via gradual distraction using an Ilizarov external fixator. This procedure was used in nine boys and five girls who were treated for complications following Monteggia lesions between 2000 and 2009. The average age at the time of surgery was 8 years and 4 months, the average injury-to-surgery interval was 19 months, and a prerequisite for surgery was a normal concave articular surface of the proximal radius. The patients were followed up for an average of 28 months and, at final follow-up, all were fully active and had no pain or instability., Results: The complications included: non-union of the ulnar osteotomy site in two patients, residual radiocapitellar subluxation in two patients, and one patient had revision surgery. Nine patients showed a full range of motion, two had a loss of extension, and three had a mean loss of pronation of 20 degrees and a mean loss of supination of 20 degrees., Discussion: The Monteggia lesion is a rare fracture in childhood, but its sequelae can be serious. So far a unified therapeutic approach has not been proposed. Most authors prefer reconstruction surgery. Our results are in full agreement with the published data., Conclusions: The operative treatment of consequences after Monteggia fractures in children has a relatively high rate of complications and unpredictable results. Indications for reconstruction involve a normal articular surface of the radial head and a normal alignment of the radius and ulna. Key words: Monteggia fracture, consequences, reconstruction surgery, childhood.