General Information
Knee arthroscopy is an outpatient procedure performed to diagnose and treat a variety of knee pathologies.
- Information on post-operative care is listed below.
- -For specific information on knee pathologies commonly treated with arthroscopy, please select a link above.
- The knee joint is accessed through small incisions in your skin about 1 cm in length
- Number of incisions depends on the type of procedure (usually 2-3)
- Joint is viewed by projecting the camera’s image onto a TV monitor
- Small, specialized instruments are used to repair any damage
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CLICK HERE TO PRINT Knee Arthroscopy Post-Operative Care
- Plan to take a few days off from work
- Schedule a follow-up office appointment 1-2 wks after surgery
- Begin physical therapy (if prescribed) within the first week after surgery
- -IMPORTANT for a successful outcome
- If surgery is performed on the right knee, do not drive until you speak with your physician
- For any questions or concerns about your post-operative anticoagulation medication:
- -Please call the BWH Anticoagulation Clinic at (617)-732-8887
- Swelling and discomfort in the knee for up to a week after surgery
- Use of crutches will be explained by your discharging nurse
- If you have sutures, they are removed within 1 week
- Initially, you may not feel pain
- -once the nerve block wears off pain will need to be managed with your pain medication prescription
- KEEP THE LEG ELEVATED
- -must be highter than your heart
- -prevents swelling and helps decrease pain
- Icing is most important in the first 72 hours after surgery but continuing can help with pain
- -Apply ice bags or use the cryotherapy device you were given every 1-2 hours for 30 mins
- -If ice is in a plastic bag, put a thin towel or t-shirt on your skin
- Take your pain medication with food. Please call our office (617-732-8138) if you do not tolerate it well
- - common side effects include nausea, dizziness, urinary retention, and constipation
- Do not operate machinery or vehicle while taking pain medications
- Narcotic Refills
- -call during office hours (Mon-Thurs)
- -not routinely refilled after office hours, Fridays or weekends
- -please allow two days for processing
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- PUMP YOUR ANKLES UP AND DOWN
- -several times an hour to keep the blood circulating in your leg and to help prevent blood clots from forming
- We recommend that you take 1 aspirin (81 mg) daily for the 1st 2 weeks following your surgery.
- Eat a regular diet
- -avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking
- KEEP BANDAGES CLEAN AND DRY. REMOVE THEM AFTER TWO DAYS.
- -cover incisions with band-aids and do not use antibiotic creams
- You may shower 72 hours after surgery
- -keep incisions dry with a dressing for 5-7 days
- DO NOT submerge incisions directly until at least 3 weeks after surgery
- Please call our office (617-732-8138) or the On-Call MD after hours (617-732-6660) if you have
- -incision drainage for more than 48 hours
- -redness
- -calf pain with swelling
- -fever