Introduction:

Currently, there is a lack of information in the national literature concerning joint loose bodies in the knee joint. These occur as a consequence of traumatic, degenerative, inflammatory and ischemic injuries.

Objective:

To update knowledge on the most general aspects concerning joint loose bodies in the knee and the use of the arthroscopy procedure on its treatment.

Method:

Search and analysis of the information was performed on 59 days (January 1 to February 28, 2023) and the following keywords were used: foreing body AND knee, articular loose body AND knee, free body AND knee, locking knee arthroscopy AND locking. Based on the information obtained, a bibliographic review was made of a total of 211 articles published in the PubMed, Hinari, SciELO and Medline databases. The EndNote search manager and reference manager was used. Of the total of articles, 33 contributions selected for the review were used, 32 were published the last five years.

Development:

It was refered in the study on the positive diagnosis based on the history, clinical picture and imaging. In relation to the differential diagnosis of this entity, special emphasis is made up with all the conditions that produce joint blockage. Specifically, meniscal lesions are reviewed, as well as the most commonly used classifications according to size, origin, quantity and mobility. In relation to the arthroscopic treatment, the following four stages were described: identification, trapping, extraction and revision.

Final considerations:

The arthroscopic approach, due to its multiple advantages, represents the most effective surgical modality for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with joint loose bodies in the knee.

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