[Complications in 4,000 arthroscopies]

From 1983 to 1989 we performed about 4,000 arthroscopies of the knee in our hospital. Iatrogen lesions of the cartilage were the most frequent complication. Other complications were edemas of the subcutaneous tissue, the necessary of arthrotomy, long operating time, subcutaneous hematomas, postoperative effusion or hemarthrosis and thrombosis. The rate of severe complications was 0.5% as described by other authors. Arthroscopy has a low rate of complications, but it isn't a method without risks.