Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction as a day case with extended recovery

The aim of this study was to describe the procedures and the postoperative outcome of arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction when carried out a day case with extended recovery. Between December 1995 and September 1998, 91 patients underwent surgery using bone-patellatendon-bone autografts and interference screw fixation. Additional surgical procedures were performed on 35 of the patients. The patient records were evaluated for a mean of 17 months (1-33 months) postoperatively. The course of treatment was. (1) Evaluation and KLT-arthrometer test 14 days preoperatively. (2) Surgery, cryocuff, bupivacain, paracetamol, NSAID and ketobemidon for postoperative pain control. (3) Discharge from hospital within 24 h. (4) Physiotherapy after 14 days. (5) Follow-up after 6 weeks with bandage removal and after 6 months. Eight patients required one further day of hospitalisation due to pain (four), nausea (one), haematoma (two) and prolonged anaesthesia (one). Five patients were readmitted to hospital for a mean of 8 (3-16) days postoperatively. Three patients underwent re-surgery due to haematoma/rupture of the scar. No deep infections were found. We concluded that this effective method of ACL-reconstruction can be carried out safely as a day case procedure with extended recovery to the benefit of the patients.