title: Arthroscopic surgery of the knee: its role in the support of U.S. troops during Operation Desert Shield on USNS mercy.
abstract: The role of arthroscopy in the preconflict deployment of a large number of military troops is not well defined. Between September 1990 and January 1991, while deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield 73 patients underwent on-board elective arthroscopy on the USNS Mercy. There were 71 men and two women with an average age of 27 years (range 19-47). Indications for arthroscopy included clinical diagnosis of meniscus tear, acute hemarthrosis, chronic effusion, and intra-articular loose body. Findings at the time of arthroscopy included 34 patients (47%) with meniscus tears; 17 (23%) with anterior cruciate ligament tears; five (7%) with isolated grade II-IV chondromalacia involving the patella, trochlea, femoral condyles, or tibial plateaus; six (8%) with synovitis; four (5%) with osteochondritis dissecans of the medial femoral condyle; two (3%) with a medial retinacular tear secondary to patella dislocation; and 10 (14%) with normal arthroscopic examinations. Forty-nine patients (66%) were returned to duty at an average of 6 days postoperatively, obviating the need to evacuate these patients from the Middle East theatre.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, USNS Mercy (TAH 19), FPO San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Culp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smallman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006395:Hemarthrosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East; D008889:Military Personnel; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare