After Surgery

Medication
Your orthopedic surgeon may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infection. You may also be prescribed pain medication to help relieve discomfort following your surgery.

Wound care
You will leave the hospital with a dressing covering your knee. You may remove the dressing the day after surgery. When you shower you need to avoid directing water at the incisions. Do not soak your incisions in a tub. Keep your incisions clean and dry.
Your orthopedic surgeon will see you in the office a few days after surgery to check your progress, review the surgery, and begin your postoperative treatment program.

Swelling
Keep your leg elevated as much as possible for the first few days after surgery. Ice may be recommended by your orthopedic surgeon to relieve swelling and pain. Place the ice in a plastic bag wraped in a towel to avoid direct contact with your bandage. Ice your knee for up to two hours at a time.

Recovery
Recovery from knee arthroscopy is much faster than recovery from traditional open knee surgery. However, it is still important to follow your orthopedic surgeon's instructions carefully after you return home. Arrange to have someone check on you the evening of your surgery.

You can walk unassisted following arthroscopic surgery if instructed by your surgeon. You may be advised to use crutches, a cane, or a walker for a period of time after surgery. You can gradually put more weight on your leg as your discomfort subsides and you regain strength in your knee. Your surgeon may allow you to drive after a week.

Rehabilitation
You should exercise your knee regularly for several weeks following surgery to strengthen the muscles of your leg and knee. A physical therapist may help you with your exercise program if your orthopedic surgeon recommends specific exercises.

Expectations After Arthroscopic Surgery
Although arthroscopy can be used to treat many problems, you may have some activity limitations even after recovery. Your outcome is dependant upon a number of factors including the degree of injury or damage found in your knee during surgery. For example, if you damage your knee from jogging and the smooth articular cartilage of your knee has worn away completely, then full recovery may not be possible. Muscle condition is also an important factor is the recovery process. A professional athlete often sustains the same injury as a weekend recreational athlete, but the potential for recovery may be improved by the over-development of knee muscles. Physical exercise and rehabilitation will play an important role in your final outcome.

A return to intense physical activity should only be done under the direction of your surgeon. It is reasonable to expect that by six to eight weeks you should be able to engage in most of your former physical activities as long as they do not involve significant weight-bearing impact. Twisting maneuvers may have to be avoided for a longer time. If your job involves heavy work, such as a construction laborer, you may require more time to return to your job than if you have a sedentary job.