Day case arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

This is a report of the first 33 consecutive patients who had arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the day unit of Sandwell District General Hospital. Bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft was used. This study assessed post-operative pain control, clinical results and patient satisfaction with day case surgery. The mean age was 29 years, (range17-43). The mean period between injury and reconstruction was 29 months, (range 2-50). The mean follow-up period was 16 months (range 6-31). In 31 patients (94%), adequate post-operative pain control was achieved with oral non opioid analgesic. No patient required readmission for pain control, nausea, vomiting or urinary retention. At the last follow up, the mean Lysholm score was 93.9, (range 68-100). Thirty-one patients (94%) were satisfied with the day case surgery and believed that they did not require hospitalization after surgery.