Thrombophlebitic complications in arthroscopic surgery of the knee.

Arthroscopic surgery is generally considered to be free of any significant complications. In particular, there is a much lower incidence of vascular complications as compared with open surgery of the knee. A careful examination of the literature, made by the authors, and an in-depth analysis of a significant sample (790 patients over 2 years) out of a total of more than 2200 knee arthroscopies performed over 7 years, has shown that thrombophlebitis is in fact an important complication especially in patients over the age of forty. The need for an accurate preliminary study to identify the patients at risk and for regular and specific out-patient check-ups to prevent the onset of severe vascular and thrombophlebitic complications is stressed.