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Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

BASIC RESEARCH

Fenestrated Cannulae with Outflow Reduces Fluid Gain in Shoulder Arthroscopy

Syed, Hasan M. MD1; Gillham, Seth B. BA2; Jobe, Christopher M. MD1; Phipatanakul, Wesley P. MD1; Wongworawat, Montri D. MD1, a

1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, 92354, Loma Linda, CA, USA

2School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 92354, Loma Linda, CA, USA

ae-mail; [email protected]

Received: November 20, 2008/Accepted: June 12, 2009/Published online: June 26, 2009

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

Abstract

Soft tissue fluid retention is a common problem after arthroscopy, with as much as 2% of patients having complications develop. A fenestrated outflow cannula has been introduced to reduce interstitial swelling. We tested the ability of this outflow cannula design to reduce fluid weight gain. We enrolled 28 patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy and randomized them into two groups using fenestrated outflow versus conventional cannulae. The conventional group had greater weight gain as a function of the procedure duration than the fenestrated outflow group (slope = 0.542 ± 1.160 kg/hour versus 0.0144 ± 0.932 kg/hour). The conventional group also had greater weight gain as a function of fluid volume than the fenestrated outflow group (slope = 0.022 ± 0.038 kg/L versus 0.002 ± 0.341 kg/L). Compared with conventional nonoutflow cannulae, fenestrated outflow cannulae with negative pressure reduced weight gain associated with longer arthroscopic surgeries and increased arthroscopic fluid volume.

Level of Evidence: 

Level I, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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