Outpatient ACL reconstruction using intraoperative local analgesia and oral postoperative pain medication

Orthopedics. 1998 Jul;21(7):781-4. doi: 10.3928/0147-7447-19980701-07.

Abstract

Thirty-five consecutive anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions were performed in an ambulatory surgical unit using a bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft. Patients were evaluated postoperatively to determine the amount of pain medication used, the readmission rate, postoperative complications, and cost. Outpatient ACL reconstruction led to a savings of $4700 compared with the cost of performing the same procedure in a hospital operating room with an overnight admission. This study demonstrates that outpatient ACL reconstruction, using local analgesia intraoperatively and oral narcotic pain medication postoperatively, is a safe and cost-effective procedure with minimal to no morbidity.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Surgical Procedures*
  • Analgesia
  • Anesthesia, Local
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament / surgery*
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries*
  • Arthroscopy
  • Endoscopy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Period
  • Knee Injuries / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control*
  • Tibial Meniscus Injuries
  • Treatment Outcome