Among 183 cases of arthroscopic surgery of knee, 138 cases underwent arthroscopic surgery using Nd:YAG laser in the Department of Orthopedics, Chonnam University Hospital, between Feb. 1993 and May 1994, and it´s results were analyzed
clinically.
The frequent indication for Nd:YAG laser arthroscopic surgery was meniscus injury in 100 cases, synovial pathology in 22 cases. Etc. Local anesthesia using 10-30ml of 0.25% bupivacaine were performed in all 138 cases. Nd:YAG laser power was
-50-55
watts
and the average laser shot time was 4.2 minutes. The average arthroscopic op. Time was 34.6 min, and op. Time for partial meniscectomy was 29.3 minutes in average, partial meniscetomy in discoid meniscus was 44 min. in average.
The complications were mild hemarthrosis in 3 cases, breakage of laser contact fiber tip in 4 cases, and articular cartilage injury by laser in 5 cases.
Ion summary arthroscopic surge3ry using Nd:YAG laser was consibered as a good and effective procedure which took short op. Time, and was safe and conveniently applicable in narrow knee joint space.
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