Three irrigation systems for motorized arthroscopic surgery: a comparative experimental and clinical study.

The purpose of this study was to compare experimentally and clinically three types of irrigation systems for arthroscopic suction surgery. A joint model was used in the experimental part of the study. It was found that a combination of inflow from a volume pump with extra gravity inflow through a separate cannula gave results comparable to those with more sophisticated automatic pumps. Clinically, none of the systems provided protection from high-pressure peaks during rapid movements of the knee joint. It was also found that the pressure differed in the superior and posteromedial compartments of the knee during rapid movement.