All patients were kept fasting after midnight and received midazolam 5 mg orally as premedication. All patients were premedicated with I.V. midazolam 0.03 mg/kg ten minutes before starting the operation. The anesthetic technique was standardized for all patients. All surgical procedures were performed by the same surgeon and consisted of arthroscopic removal of torn meniscus. Both intra-articular and intravenous solutions were prepared by an individual not involved in the study and the intra-articular drugs were injected by the surgeon (without knowing the contents). The anesthesiologist managing and monitoring the patient throughout the surgery provides IV drugs. No leg holder or tourniquet or surgical drain was used for any of the cases. After preparation and draping the patient's leg, patients were warned prior to each needle stick to decrease anxiety. All procedures were performed under complete aseptic conditions. Skin and subcutaneous tissues at each arthroscopic portal site were anesthetized with LA consisting of injection of a mixture of 2% lidocaine 5 mL with 1:200,000 epinephrine.