Ankle saline load test

INTRODUCTION: A tool frequently used for evaluation of a traumatic arthrotomy is the saline load test. No information exists in the current literature guiding what baseline fluid infusion is required to reliably detect or diagnose a traumatic ankle arthrotomy. The purpose of this study was to provide a reliable benchmark when employing the saline load test for complex ankle soft-tissue wounds with suspected intra-articular involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive patients presenting for elective ankle arthroscopy underwent simulated saline load tests...