Characteristics of the immediate postarthroscopic blood clot formation in the knee joint

The immediate postoperative bleeding and blood clot formation was observed in 26 human knee joints following a variety of arthroscopic surgical procedures. Observations were made following lavage with lactated Ringer's and normal saline solutions. Bleeding occurred from all incised vascular tissue. Blood clot accumulated after each solution within 5 min following tourniquet release and decompression of the joint. Most of the blood clot remained unattached within the joint cavity. Blood clot did attach to all surgically incised or excised surfaces. The clinical relevance of these observations is related to the potential role of the blood clot in intraarticular tissue repair following arthroscopic surgery.