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Previous Volume 355:631 August 10, 2006 Number 6 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: In the video of arthrocentesis of the knee by Thomsen et al. (May 11 issue),¹ a folded towel is placed under the patient's knee to keep it semiflexed during the procedure. This intervention is likely to decrease the aspiration success rate in the case of small effusions.

Patients with large knee effusions feel more comfortable in semiflexion because it increases the volume capacity of the joint, therefore decreasing the intraarticular filling pressure.² Full passive extension of the knee has the opposite effect. In large effusions, placing the knee in semiflexion, as shown in the video, will increase . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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