Discharge Instructions & Physical Therapy Protocol for Arthrocopic Meniscal Repair

Recovery after knee surgery entails controlling swelling and discomfort, healing, return of range-of-motion of the knee joint, regaining strength in the muscles around the knee joint, and a gradual return to activities. The following instructions are intended as a guide to help you achieve these individual goals and recover as quickly as possible after your knee surgery.

Comfort

Elevation - Elevate your knee and ankle above the level of your heart. The best position is lying down with two pillows lengthwise under your entire leg. This should be done for the first several days after surgery
Swelling - A cooling device may be provided to control swelling and discomfort by slowing the circulation in your knee. Initially, this can be used continuously for the first 3 days, (while the initial post-op dressing is on). After 3 days, the cooling device should be applied 3 times a day for 10-minute intervals. If a cooling device is not provided at the time of surgery, place crushed ice in a plastic bag over your knee for no more than 20 minutes, three (3) times a day
Pain Medication - Take medications as prescribed, but only as often as necessary. Avoid alcohol and driving if you are taking pain medication
Antibiotic Medication - If an antibiotic has been prescribed, start taking the day of your surgery. The first dose should be around dinnertime. Continue taking until the prescription is finished
Driving - Driving is NOT permitted for six weeks following right knee surgery

Activities

Range-of-Motion - Move your knee through range of motion as tolerated. This must be done while sitting or lying down
Locking Knee Brace - The brace is to be worn for up to 4-6 weeks following surgery. It will be locked straight until healing and good knee strength have been achieved, (usually 6 weeks after surgery). At that time your doctor will determine if your leg has enough strength to allow your brace to be unlocked. You may unlock the brace while sitting but lock the brace before standing. Sleep with the brace on until directed by Dr. Forsythe
Exercises - These help prevent complications such as blood clotting in your legs. Point and flex your foot and wiggle your toes. Thigh muscle tightening exercises should begin the day of surgery and should be done for 10 to 15 minutes, 3 times a day, for the first few weeks after surgery
Weightbearing Status - You are allowed NOT allowed to put any weight on your operative leg for the first week after surgery. Walk using two crutches and your brace in the locked straight position. After the first week you may put all of your weight on your operative leg using your brace in the locked straight position. Do this within the limits of pain. Two crutches should be used until directed to discontinue by Dr. Forsythe
CPM - (Continuous Passive Motion Machine) - A Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine should be started the day after your surgery. This machine will be set at 30°. Motion on the machine should be increased at 10-15° per day or as much as tolerated, to a maximum of 110° in one week. The machine should be used 6 hours per day (i.e. 2 hours in the morning, 2 hours in the afternoon and 2 hours in the evening). Use of the machine will continue for 1-2 weeks, or until maximum flexion of the machine is reached (110°). DO NOT WEAR LEG BRACE OR COOLING DEVICE WHILE USING CPM MACHINE
Physical Therapy - PT should be started 3-5 days after surgery. You should call the physical therapist of your choice for an appointment as soon as possible after surgery. A prescription for physical therapy, along with physical therapy instructions (included in this packet) must be taken to the therapist at your first visit
Athletic Activities - Athletic activities, such as swimming, bicycling, jogging, running and stop-and-go sports, should be avoided until allowed by your doctor
Return to Work - Return to work as soon as possible. Your ability to work depends on a number of factors - your level of discomfort and how much demand your job puts on your knees. If you have any questions, please call your doctor

Wound Care

Tub bathing, swimming, and soaking of the knee should be avoided until allowed by your doctor - Usually 2-3 weeks after your surgery. Keep the dressing on, clean and dry for the first 3 days after surgery
Remove the dressing 3 days after surgery. The steri-strips (small white tape that is directly on the incision areas) should be left on until the first office visit. You may apply band-aids to the small incisions around your knee
You may shower 5 days after surgery with band-aids on. Apply new band-aids after showering

Eating

Your first few meals, after surgery, should include light, easily digestible foods and plenty of liquids, since some people experience slight nausea as a temporary reaction to anesthesia

Call your physician if

Pain in your knee persists or worsens in the first few days after surgery
Excessive redness or drainage of cloudy or bloody material from the wounds (Clear red tinted fluid and some mild drainage should be expected). Drainage of any kind 5 days after surgery should be reported to the doctor
You have a temperature elevation greater than 101°
You have pain, swelling or redness in your calf
You have numbness or weakness in your leg or foot

Return to the office

Your first return to our office should be within the first 1 - 2 weeks after your surgery. Call Dr. Forsythe’s office to make an appointment for this first post-operative visit

Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair Post Operative Rehabilitation

GOALS

Manage inflammation (Cryo-Cuff, NSAIDs, etc.)
Controlled gains in range-of-motion
Early maintenance of strength
Non-weightbearing in full extension for 1 week then FWB in brace locked in extension
Brace - Extension Lock Brace

0 - 1 WEEK

ROMs - 0° - 90° non-weightbearing, patellar slides
Weightbearing - NWB in full extension (brace locked)
Strength - controlled quad exercises, SLR, quad contraction (isometric), hip extension and flexion, calf raises
Brace - locked in extension

1 - 4 WEEKS

ROMs- achieve 0° - 90°, patellar slides
Weightbearing- WBAT, brace locked in extension
Strength- continue 0 - 1 week exercises
Brace- locked in extension

4 - 6 WEEKS

ROMs - advance to normal ROMs, no flexion loading beyond 90° flexion
Strength -
- Quads - mini squats, closed chain exercises
- Hamstrings - start hamstring curls, hip extension and flexion, calf exercise
Weightbearing - begin normal gait training, initially unlock brace if good quad control and then wean from brace over the next 2 weeks

6 WEEKS