title: Outpatient arthroscopy of the knee under local anaesthesia.
abstract: Arthroscopy of the knee was carried out under local anaesthesia in 313 outpatients, with arthroscopic surgery in 81. The procedure had to be abandoned because of apprehension in only 0.9%. With increasing experience, the number of arthroscopic meniscectomies increased from 5% to 64% of the lesions found. The method was particularly valuable in the assessment of patello-femoral pain since dynamic evaluation of patellar alignment, and the localisation of sensitive structures by palpation, was possible. The method is a safe, reliable and inexpensive alternative to the use of spinal or general anaesthesia for arthroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Horsens Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fruensgaard
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Johannsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged