Purpose: To examine the number of viable stem cells contained in the postinjury effusion fluid and the waste byproducts of arthroscopic cruciate ligament surgery.
Methods: This study included patients older than 18 years of age with acute (<5 weeks old) cruciate ligament injuries requiring arthroscopic surgery. The postinjury effusion fluid (effusion fluid), fat pad and cruciate ligament stump debridement tissue (byproduct tissue), and arthroscopic fluid collected during fat pad and/or stump debridement (byproduct fluid) were collected at the time of surgery from 30 individuals.