An injection technique to create a bloodless field in arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract

We did a retrospective study of 67 patients who had arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament re construction using the middle one-third of the patellar tendon to evaluate a technique for creating a bloodless field using a local anesthetic with epinephrine injection (the injection technique). For 37 patients, the bloodless field was created using the injection technique. In 30 others, hemostasis was achieved in the usual fashion with the pneumatic tourniquet. All patients underwent general anesthesia. Mean op erative time and length of hospital stay was similar for each group. Mean postoperative pain medication con sumption was significantly decreased for patients treated with the injection technique. No clinically rec ognizable complications could be attributed to either technique. We conclude that subcutaneous and intra articular injection of local anesthesia with epinephrine is a satisfactory method of establishing a bloodless field in arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction operations.