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Steam autoclaving and ethylene sterilization methods have been for sterilization of medical instruments. Repeated steam autoclaving of high-priced instruments will probably shorten their useful lives. The method of ethylene age sterilization is much time consuming and limits the availability of instruments for clinical use. Recently cold sterilization method using 2％ glutaraldehyde solution was recommended. Although this is economic, quick and effective has method, there been a growing awareness of the minor complication associated with the residue of glutaraldehyde on an instrument. So, we attemped to evaluate the effect of glutaraldehyde in rabbit knees and the extent of residue of glutaraldehyde in the rinse solution of an arthroscope immersed in glutaraldehyed solution. The results are : 1. The concentration of glutaraldehyde in the rinse basin was 16-30ppm by the first rinsing procedure, and when the same rinse solution was used for subsequent cases, the glutaraldehyde concentration was 117-149ppm by the sixth rinsing procedure. 2. We have observed microscopic evidence of leucocyte infiltration and vascular congestion in the synovium of rabbit knees, injected with 5ppm glutaraldehyde. Vascular hemorrhage and synovial edema were observed at the concentration of 50ppm, focal synovial necrosis and fibrosis were observed at 500ppm, and chondrolysis was observed at 1000ppm, respectively.
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