Instillation of continuous tube irrigation in the septic knee at arthroscopy. A technique.

The arthroscope was employed to install a continuous closed tube irrigation system in four septic knees in three patients who had complex medical problems. This simple technique may be accomplished by the orthopedic surgeon with limited arthroscopic expertise. In the open drainage versus closed aspiration dilemma that surrounds the management of septic arthritis, this semi-invasive procedure offers promise as an alternative treatment in complicated cases of pyarthrosis of the knee.