The complications of arthroscopy

Summary

There have been few prospective studies on the complications of arthroscopy, and most authors vary in the definitions of the complications which they report. Although the prospective study conducted by AANA in 1988 is generally regarded as the standard, the precise incidence of each complication is not known for all joints. There is general agreement throughout the literature, however, that arthroscopic surgery has a lower morbidity than otherwise equivalent open procedures. The incidence of complications increases with the complexity of surgical intervention, and the complication rate following diagnostic arthroscopy is very low. This low incidence of complications has, however, been achieved through a sound knowledge of local anatomy, a strict adherence to surgical principles and a willingness to publish reports of complications when they occur.

Keywords:

• arthroscopy
• complications