DAY-STAY ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

Introduction: Day-stay anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is commonly performed in North America. We report our experience in New Zealand.Methods: One hundred and sixteen arthroscopic ACL reconstructions were performed by one surgeon with the same anaesthetist over a period of 14 months. One hundred and four were performed as day-stay procedures. Children and patients who had no social support stayed overnight. All patients underwent spinal anaesthesia with a femoral nerve block. Patients were discharged with oral analgesia, a brace and a cryocuff. One hundred and three patients were prospectively evaluated after two weeks by a visual analogue pain scores (0–10) and a self-administered patient satisfaction questionnaire.Results: One hundred and two patients (99%) were happy to go home. One patient was admitted from the day-stay unit. One patient was re-admitted in the middle of the night. Ninety eight patients (93%) coped on the night of surgery and did not think they should have been in hosp...