Unsuccessful arthroscopic treatment of pyarthrosis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Postoperative purulent infection developed in the knee of a patient who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Initially, arthroscopic lavage and debridement was performed, but was unsuccessful because the infection had spread into the soft tissues of the former surgical wound. Open debridement had to be performed to control the periarticular infection. It is important to stress that the extent of the infection has to be considered when instituting a method of treatment. It should be possible to clinically diagnose this extraarticular infection.