Knee joint changes in the early postoperative period after arthroscopic resection of menisci under the influence of different treatment methods

Introduction The rate of effusion or hemarthrosis after arthroscopic operation is in the range of 0.16 - 15.7 %. Changes in the operated joint are reflected in the composition and properties of the synovium. So, the study of hemo-synovial fluid will assess the severity of pathological changes and the effectiveness of treatment. Purpose The aim of the research was to study the changes in the hemo-synovial fluid of the operated knee joint and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments applied to hemosynovitis. Materials and methods The study included 79 males between the age of 18 and 60 years. At each puncture after full evacuation, the cavity was treated by the author's method in 38 patients of group 1 (patents on invention of Russia № 2457833 and № 2460545), which consisted in the lavage of the joint cavity with an isotonic sodium hydrocarbonate solution cooled down to +5 °С until the fluid was clear followed by intraarticular introduction of 3.0 ml of the mixture consisting of solutions for injections of 5 % ascorbic acid, 5 % unithiol and 0.5 % novocain, taken in equal volumes 1:1:1. At each puncture after full evacuation in 41 patients of group 2, intraarticular introduction of 3.0 ml of 0.5 % novocain solution for injections was performed. The efficiency was studied with magnetic resonance imaging in 24 men (12 subjects from each group) on 3rd and 7th days after arthroscopy. The pH, relative density, level of lipid hydroperoxide, concentration of common SH-groups and cytosis were defined in the hemo-synovial fluid. Results It was revealed that inflammatory changes develop in the operated knee joint after arthroscopic resection of the meniscus. Discussion The treatment technique proposed for knee joint hemosynovitis reduces faster the severity of the inflammatory reaction, lipid peroxidation and increases concentration of thiol antioxidants.