Massive Proximal Extravasation as a Complication during Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Extra-articular extravasation of irrigation fluid is relatively common around entry incisions and is usually limited to the subcutaneous tissue. Very rarely, extravasation occurs above the knee, in the thigh and even up into the pelvis. We are reporting the second case of irrigation fluid extravasation during a knee arthroscopy, which spread up to the thigh, groin and perineum during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, whilst the tourniquet was inflated. In our case, we think that the extravasation was caused by a fault in the pressure sensor due to the fact that the reservoir was over-filled. The irrigation pressure was therefore too high, and the irrigation fluid was able to diffuse, despite the presence of a pneumatic tourniquet, up past the thigh.