In 228 knees submitted to arthrotomy following arthroscopy, there were
eleven diagnostic errors in those knees examined under general anesthesia
and five diagnostic errors in those knees examined under local anesthesia
with a diagnostic accuracy of 91.1 and 95.2 per cent, respectively.
Therefore, we concluded that accuracy is not diminished by performing
arthroscopic examinations under local anesthesia on ambulatory
out-patients. In 297 knees examined under local anesthesia, no
complications were encountered. In 282 knees examined under general or
spinal anesthesia, there was one pulmonary embolus and two significant
hemarthroses. Except when there are specific overriding considerations,
local anesthesia is preferable in the performance of diagnostic
arthroscopy.