DATE OF OPERATION: MM/DD/YYYY
PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Left knee septic arthropathy.
POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Left knee septic arthropathy.
OPERATIONS PERFORMED:
1. Left knee arthrotomy.
2. Left knee irrigation and debridement.
SURGEON: John Doe, MD
ASSISTANT: Jane Doe, MD
ANESTHESIA: General.
DRAINS: One Hemovac drain.
SPECIMENS: Tissue cultures, including synovium, were sent for cultures.
ESTIMATED BLOOD LOSS: Less than 200 mL.
COMPLICATIONS: None immediate.
DISPOSITION: To the postanesthesia care unit for recovery.
INDICATIONS FOR OPERATION: The patient is a (XX)-year-old male, HIV positive, who had clinical suspicion of a left septic knee. He had a very limited range of motion of his knee, about 10 degrees arc of motion, with acute swelling and pain. The patient was counseled regarding available options and made aware of the potential risks and benefits of the aforementioned procedure. The patient was eventually consented for operative drainage of his left knee joint.
DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION: The patient was brought to the operating room and laid supine on the operating room table. General anesthesia was induced. The left lower extremity was prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion.
Next, a 6 cm anterior incision was made, and a lateral parapatellar arthrotomy was performed. Next, the knee joint was thoroughly irrigated with nine liters of normal saline, the middle three liters of which contained 100,000 units of bacitracin. No purulent pus was encountered in the knee joint. The synovium was sent, prior to irrigation, for cultures.
After thorough irrigation, the parapatellar arthrotomy was closed using 0 Ethibond in figure-of-eight fashion. The skin was closed using 2-0 Vicryl suture followed by staples for the skin. Sterile dressings were applied, and the patient was placed into a knee immobilizer. A Hemovac drain had been placed prior to closure.
The patient was awakened from anesthesia, transferred back onto his stretcher, and taken to the postanesthesia care unit for recovery. There were no complications.
