You will remain in the hospital for a few days during which you will be started on an intensive programme of postoperative physical therapy. Afterwards, you will be discharged home on crutches.
Full weight-bearing with the leg in extension is then permitted.
In the initial period after surgery, you will be required to take medication or injections to thin your blood in order to prevent blood clots and pulmonary embolism.
Physiotherapy is the top priority at this time. The two main goals of physiotherapy are to completely restore the mobility of the knee joint and to further strengthen the thigh muscles.
You will be permitted to walk without crutches in about 4 to 6 weeks. A light sports rehabilitation programme can be started at that time.
Six weeks after surgery, you will be recalled to us so that we can re-examine the knee and obtain a follow-up X-ray.
Contact sports (e.g. football) and sports requiring a lot of bending and pressure on the knee (e.g. skiing) should not be resumed until at least 3 months after surgery.
