Is Single-Stage Bilateral Knee Arthroscopy a Safe Option?

Abstract

Introduction: Single-stage bilateral arthroscopic surgery allows the patient to undergo a single postoperative and rehabilitation period. The aim of this article was to evaluate the functional-clinical outcomes and time to return to work and sports in a series of patients who had undergone single-stage bilateral arthroscopy. Materials and Methods: We evaluated a retrospective series of patients who had undergone single-stage bilateral knee arthroscopy from April 2016 to April 2019. Short- and medium-term clinical-functional outcomes, and time to return to work and sports were analyzed. Results: The average age of the patients was 41 years (range 18 - 63), with an average follow-up of 18 months (6-37). The average anesthesia time was 105 minutes (range 60 - 170) and the average surgical time was 85 minutes (50 to 150). The average time to return to work was 2 months (range 1-5). Joint range of motion was fully recovered in all patients. Conclusion: Although single-stage bilateral arthroscopy has shown good clinical outcomes in selected patients, no relevant comparisons or conclusions can be established due to the low casuistry and the great diversity of the surgeries performed. The main advantage would be in avoiding procedures in two surgical stages, which would imply two operations, twice the anesthesia and two different rehabilitation programs.

Keywords

• bilateral arthroscopy
• single-stage arthroscopy
• knee arthroscopy