[False aneurysm following arthroscopic meniscectomy of the knee]

Blood vessel injuries during arthroscopic knee surgeries are unusual and rare and comprise less than 1% of all arthroscopic complications. Between 1990 and 2004, at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Institute of Surgery, Novi Sad, 2100 arthroscopic knee surgeries were carried out. Only one case of false aneurysm of the geniculate lateral inferior artery was reported.

A 35-year-old professional waiter injured his left knee while getting up from a kneeling position. He had a typical clinical rupture with an interior meniscus lesion. Knee arthroscopy with resection of the torn part of interior meniscus was performed. Seven days later, we observed a subcutaneous tumefaction, 2 cm in diameter, which was warm, pulsating and painful on palpation. It was located in the region of anterolateral portal. Angiography confirmed the existence of a false aneurysm of lateral geniculate inferior artery. Revision of the wound was performed on the exterior side of the knee. The hematoma was removed and the artery tied A month later, the patient fully recovered and returned to his professional activities.

Only four injuries, that is false aneurysms of the exterior knee artery after knee arthroscopy, have been described so far. The possibility for this injury to occur lies in the fact the artery lies over and is parallel with the lateral knee joint line, at the very entrance of the anterolateral arthroscopic port. Since the latter is the most often used arthroscopic port to access the knee, the above injury is possible, but it does not minifest clinically. This complication is easily diagnosed by a pulsating tumefaction in the area of arthroscopic port and is confirmed by angiography. These rare blood vessel injuries, do not affect the usage of anterolateral arthroscopic procedure. If the injury does exist,, revision of the wound and artery ligature should be carried out, which does not affect the final treatment results.