Acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee

Description: Distortions and contusions of the knee are common. Fairly often they will result in hemarthrosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the findings in patients with acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee and based on these findings estimate the necessity of acute arthroscopic examination.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings we believe that routine arthroscopic examination is not necessary in patients with acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee. In our opinion the patient should be examined and followed by an orthopedic surgeon and if a lesion requiring operative treatment is diagnosed or suspected, an arthroscopic examination should be scheduled. The timing of the procedure should be such that all possible lesions encountered can be treated in the same operation.
Acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee. Is routine arthroscopic examination necessary? A study of 320 consecutive patients. Sarimo J, Rantanen J, Heikkilä J, Helttula I, Hiltunen A, Orava S. Scand J Surg. 2002;91(4):361-4.