Infection after arthroscopic surgery of the knee is rare. Despite the great frequency with which anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is performed, currently little is known about the incidence of knee infections in patients who have gone arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.
We performed a retrospective study of knee joint infections after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.
451 ACL reconstructions were performed between 1991 to 1997.
6 (1.3%) patients experienced postoperative infections of the knee. In all patients, abscess peripheral outlet of the tibial tunnel occurred.
All patients had positive cultures from the knee joint or tibial abscess aspirate staphylococcus aureus.
All patients underwent immediate irrigation and debridement and removed the tibial side fixation device.
The ACL graft was not removed from patients.
5 (83%) patients had minimal to no pain and improved stability in their operative knees, and they were satisfied with their function.