Arthroscopy for acute knee haemarthrosis in road traffic accident victims

The objective of this study is to show the characteristics of acute traumatic haemarthrosis of the knee due to road traffic accidents. A prospective study was undertaken of 47 knees in 46 road traffic accident victims (14 to 74 years old), who presented with an acute haemarthrosis of the knee over 12 months. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears occurred in 51.1 per cent (24 of 47). Lateral meniscus injuries occurred in 40.4 per cent (19 of 47). There were seven injuries of the posterior segment of the lateral meniscus associated with the 18 PCL tears. Road traffic accident victims had a higher incidence of PCL and lateral meniscus injuries than did a series of athletes with injuries. High-energy and multi-directional injury and the anatomy of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus might account for a major part of the discrepancy.