Problems with the sterilisation and the maintenance of sterility of arthroscopic instruments: a comparison of different types of camera drapes.

Case reports of gas gangrene following arthroscopy using instruments sterilised with glutaraldehyde demonstrate the inadequacy of this sterilisation method. A safer way to achieve sterility is to combine gas-sterilised arthroscopes and a non-sterile camera covered with a sterile drape. Several different types of camera drapes are available; their different safety aspects are discussed.