KNEE ARTHROSCOPY

James Davitt, MD

THE NUMBER TO CALL FOR ANY PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS IS: 503-214-5200

ANESTHESIA:

- You will feel a little off for a day or two after the anesthetic. During that time you should not drink alcoholic beverages, make any important decisions or engage in any potentially hazardous activities. It is very common to be slightly nauseated and you should start with a light, low fat diet until your appetite comes back.

BATHING AND WOUND CARE:

-It is not unusual for some blood to show through on the dressing. If bleeding seems to be continuing and the area is larger than 2 inches or so, please call the office.

-The dressing should cover the wounds and support the leg but should not feel overly tight or uncomfortable. If it seems too tight you should call the office or go to the ER if it is after hours.

-DO NOT remove the dressing until you are seen in the clinic. You should not submerge the incisions in a pool, hot tub or bath until the sutures or tape strips have been removed in the office.

PAIN MANAGEMENT:

- A long acting local anesthetic is injected into the knee after surgery and usually wears off 6-12 hours later. As it wears off your knee will begin to hurt more.

-The interval for taking pain medication, as noted on the bottle, is a minimum interval. That is, you should not take the medication more frequently than that. You may, and should take the medication less often than on the prescription if you are not in pain.

-You have been prescribed a narcotic pain medication. This medication should be taken to relieve pain, not to prevent it. You should not set your alarm clock to remind you to take your pain medicine, nor should you take it on a set schedule even if you are not hurting, as this can result in overdosing of the medication.

-If you do not have trouble with ulcers or stomach pain, and if you do not have kidney problems, you may also take an anti-inflammatory medication in addition to or instead of the narcotic medicine. An average sized adult may take three 200 mg ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) every 8 hours, or Aleve two tablets twice a day, with food for a period of two weeks.

ACTIVITY:

ELEVATION:

- Elevationis the best way to decrease you pain and swelling.. After surgery the circulation in you leg takes time to return to normal. If you leg is left below your heart and not moving for substantial periods of time then blood pools in the leg and can potentially lead to blood clots, which can be very serious. Ankle pumps should be done at least 50 times an hour while you are awake to keep the blood flowing in your leg.

WEIGHT BEARING:

- Unless specifically instructed otherwise, you may bear weight on you leg as tolerated. That means that if you are able to put weight on the leg with minimal discomfort and with good control of the leg it is ok to do so. You may use crutches if you wish but you do not need to do so.

RANGE OF MOTION :

- Unless you have been given a brace, which restricts your range of motion, you may move your knee as tolerated. The first goal should be to work on knee extension rather than knee flexion. You should work on knee extension beginning the first day after surgery by spending about 10 minutes out of every hour with a support under your heel but nothing under your knee so that your knee can hang straight. The second day after surgery you may start to work on bending your knee as well. A good way to start is to sit on a table and let your leg bend to 90 degrees with the force of gravity.

-Your goal should be gradual steady improvement. If you are not improving it is likely that you are doing too much.

CRUTCHES:

-Crutches are for your comfort and to prevent you from falling. If you are able to walk with minimal discomfort and with good balance you do not need to use them.

DRIVING:

-Your knee is mechanically able to perform the activities associated with normal driving. In order to drive safely you must have good control of your leg. Being able to walk normally without crutches and without limping is a reasonable test.

-I can tell you if you should be mechanically able to do the things needed to drive. I cannot tell you what would happen if you did something that hurt and led to your losing concentration etc. You must make your own determination as to whether you are safe to drive.

-You cannot drive if you are taking narcotic pain medication.

FOLLOW UP:

-You should have had your post op appt arranged at the time your surgery was scheduled. If you do not know when your appt is please call the office to find out.

SOME REASONS TO CALL:

-Fever greater than 101.5 (it is very common to have a low grade fever the first night or two after surgery)

-Redness or swelling that is spreading from the edges of the incisions

- Pain that is out of control or worsening and not relieved by rest, elevation, ice and pain medication.

- Chest pain, shortness of breath 

OFFICE: 503-214-5200

IF YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE AN URGENT PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE SEEN RIGHT AWAY THEN GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM