Blood loss from arthroscopic autogenous patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Thirty patients who had arthroscopically assisted autogenous patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions were retrospectively reviewed to determine the blood loss associated with this procedure. On average, a 1.5 U blood loss (9-point hematocrit decrease) occurred with this procedure. The amount of blood lost was not affected by use of an intraoperative tourniquet. Blood loss was minimally increased by extra-articular iliotibial band surgery and was unrelated to surgical timing, in the acute versus chronic phase of the injury.