Author(s)

Andrés Pakuts, Luis Martin

School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Background: Knee joint effusion is a common adverse event after arthroscopic procedures and its prevention is crucial to achieve better clinical outcomes, such as pain relief, improved range of movement and global satisfaction. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare joint effusion after partial arthroscopic meniscectomy between a common postoperative management and a short period in deep flexion. Methods: A prospective study randomizes 62 patients who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy into 2 groups of postoperative care: compression elastic bandage with elevation for 24 hours (compression group) versus immediate postoperative deep flexion for 2 hours (flexion group). Clinical evaluation of effusion was made at 24 hours, 7 days and 1-month post-surgery. Results: Overall at 24 hours patients showed 53% absent effusion, 35% minimum, 11% had mild or more severe effusion. Effusion rates in the compression group were 13%, 10% and 0%; in the flexion group 10%, 6.4% and 0%, at 24 hours, 7 days and 1 month, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between them (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In the studied population, position of the knee in deep flexion had similar influence in effusion outcomes than a standard widely used treatment, offering an alternative in the postoperative care of the patients.

Arthroscopy, Effusion, Prevention, Postoperative Knee Position

Pakuts, A. and Martin, L. (2019) Knee Effusion after Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy: Prospective Study Comparing Preventing Methods. Open Journal of Orthopedics, 9, 152-158. doi: 10.4236/ojo.2019.98016.