Author/Editor		Veselko, M; Prinčič, J; Tonin, M
Title		Diagnostic significance of haemarthrosis in an acutely injured knee-arthroscopic evaluation
Type		članek
Source		Acta Chir Austriaca
Vol. and No.		Letnik 28, št. Suppl 120
Publication year		1996
Volume		str. 79-81
Language		eng
Abstract		The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of haemarthrosis in an acutely injured, clinically stable knee, without radiographical evidence of intraarticular fracture. Our prospective study involved 50 consecutive patients presenting at the department with an acutely injured, stable knee with haemarthrosis. Intraarticular fracture was excluded by X-ray. Patients with a history of previous injuries or haemorrhagic disorders were not included in the study. Haemarthrosis was confirmed by aspiration. The quality of blood, i.e. the presence of fatty globules and its exact amount were determined. Intraarticular injuries were evaluated arthroscopically. Patients with fat-containing haemarthrosis and those showing haemarthrosis without fatty globules were studied for the relative frequency of injured intraarticular stuctures and the differences were statistically evaluated. Differences in the quantity of bleeding between different types of intraarticular injuries were statistically evaluated by the Chi-square test and analysis of variance. Osteochondral lesions and lesions of the cruciate ligmants were more common in knees with blood containing fatty globules than in knees with pure blood. The difference was statistically significant for osteochondral lesions (p=0.014), while the difference for the cruciate ligament injuries was not statistically significant (p=0.41). The average amount of blood was significantly larger in knees demonstrating osteochondral lesions than in knees without this lesions (p=0.01). There were, however, no statistically significant differences in these values between other types of knee injury. Haemarthrosis in an acutely injured knee, regardless of the quality and the quantity of blood indicates a severe intraarticular injury. Evaluation by arthroscopy or other diagnostic procedures is essential for the planning of proper therapy.
Descriptors		KNEE INJURIES ARTHROSCOPY HEMARTHROSIS