Arthroscopy of the Knee

Post Operative Instructions

Arthroscopy of the knee is done as an outpatient procedure. Some of the most common knee arthroscopy procedures I perform are listed below. You were given a set of instructions after your surgery explaining the basics of what is coming now that your surgery is complete. Hopefully this site will answer any further questions you may have regarding your surgery and post operative course. This section is broken down to the following procedures:

• Partial Meniscal Debridement
• Meniscal Repair
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
• Chondroplasty and Microfracture
• Chondral Repair or OCD repair
• Synovectomy
• Loose Body Excision

If you are unsure of your procedure, please call the office.

Please note that operative photographs are routinely taken during these procedures. Make sure that the discharging nurse or I hand these to you or your family before you leave the hospital. Bring these to the office so that we might discuss your surgery in detail, and I can explain your procedure and your prognosis further. You will be given a copy of your operative notes in the office to keep with your photos so that you have a permanent record of your operation. The hospital and I do not have copies of these photos, and they become your responsibility. These pictures are important in deciding further surgical interventions should you have any arthritic condition and may help in the decision-making process for further surgeries should this need arise. So hold on to them!

Partial Meniscal Debridement

After arriving home, make sure that the knee remains iced and elevated. You may begin to put weight on the leg as you feel comfortable. Crutches may be needed in the first several days after this surgery. When your pain permits, crutches may be discontinued.

This surgery is done using minimally invasive techniques. There will be two or more small incisions that will be closed with sutures or staples. Some are closed with sutures under the skin and these do not need to be removed and will dissolve with time. Wounds should remain clean and dry. Change dressings if they become saturated with blood. No dressing is required after day three unless this is more comfortable for you. Replace ace wrap and remember to start with the foot. If the foot is not wrapped with the ace it will definitely swell. Sutures will be removed at your first postoperative visit.

Showers can be taken on the third day after surgery. Please do not take a bath or swim until sutures are removed or you are seen in the office. Swelling and discoloration are common. Redness outside of the suture line and drainage occurring longer than three days post operatively should be brought to my attention immediately. Please call the office if you have questions or concerns.

Pain medicines will be prescribed for you during this postoperative period. Narcotics are used for the first ten days if needed. Please direct all medication needs to me during office hours or during our first post op visit. Some medicines cannot be “called in” to the pharmacy and require a prescription from me to be filled by your pharmacist.

Physical therapy is not usually required after this procedure. If there is a delay in your return to full motion, I may prescribe physical therapy to you at your first postoperative visit. This is rare following this procedure, as most patients are able to do their exercises on their own.

Here's a link which will help you proceed by yourself: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/booklet/view_report.cfm?Thread_ID=15&topcategory=Knee

Operative photographs are routinely taken during this procedure. Make sure that we give them to you at the hospital, and make sure you keep them, along with the operative notes we give you at your first postoperative visit.