Complications of knee arthroscopy performed by rheumatologists.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the complication rate of knee arthroscopy as performed by rheumatologists.

METHODS

A prospective study of complication rate in sequential patients having knee arthroscopies performed by rheumatologists at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) over an 8 year period.

RESULTS

A total of 342 knee arthroscopies were performed. There were 6 complications (1.8%), including one each of seizure, gout, portal cellulitis, ankle pain, inadequate knee drainage, and vasovagal symptoms. There was no longterm morbidity or mortality secondary to the procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Knee arthroscopy performed by experienced rheumatologists trained in arthroscopy has a low rate of complications, which are mostly minor.