Abstract des Autors

The purpose of this paper is to present our experience with Holmium 2.1 laser in arthroscopic surgery. Between december 1991 and december 1992 we performed 135 laser arthroscopies in athletes with meniscal lesions and without previous disability or ligament injury. We have especially studied immediate postoperative parameters such as mobility, effusion and delay to sport resumption. 90% of the patients recovered a mobility of flexion/extension of: 90/0/0 in the first postoperative hours and a complete and symmetrical knee mobility at the 5th day. Most of the patients could walk with immediate full weight bearing. 81% of the patients had no effusion shortly after the operation. The mean time to sport recovery was 19 days and all the athletes returned to their previous sport level. We observed 6 complications: 1 reccurence, 2 chronic effusions, 1 instability of a lateral meniscus after partial resection, 2 medial pain. We did not observe any specific laser-related complication nor deep necrosis nor infection. In comparison to the data of the literature, these results are encouraging and demonstrate the advantages of the laser arthroscopy. Disadvantages such as cost, noise and size of the apparatus are discussed. Verf.-Referat