2008 Diagnostic Arthroscopy - The value of the suprapatellar portal

Description: You will remember that so far I have taken you through the routine of starting with the arthroscope in the anterolateral portal (AL) and examining the medial side (as in the photo), then swapping it over to the anteromedial portal (AM) and examining the lateral side (link). From these two portals, much of the knee cavity can be viewed and probed. But switching portals yet again, this time to those ABOVE the patellar give the surgeon further very important information. These portals are called the suprapatellar portals - that is the superolateral (SL)) and the superomedial (SM) portals respectively. With the scope in these portals, the tip of the scope is in the cavity (suprapatellar space) above the patella, and one looks DOWN in the direction of the feet.