Before knee arthroscopy, which complete blood count value is most important to report to the physician?

• A. White blood cell count 16,000/mm3
• B. Hematocrit 33%
• C. Hemoglobin 10.9 g/dL
• D. Platelet count 426,000/mm3

Answer: (A)

Leukocytosis signals a possible infection or inflammatory process. Before knee arthroscopy, active infection anywhere raises the risk of postoperative wound infection, septic complications, and poor outcomes, so the surgeon would want to know about it and may delay the procedure or treat the infection first. A white blood cell count of 16,000/mm3 is clearly above normal and warrants prompt clinical assessment.

The other values are less urgent in this context: a hematocrit of 33% and a hemoglobin of 10.9 g/dL indicate mild anemia but don’t alone mandate canceling a relatively low-risk procedure; a platelet count of 426,000/mm3 is within or near normal limits and not an immediate surgical contraindication.