Recovery & Follow Up

On the day of surgery. Patients are given a set of exercises to start immediately in the recovery room.

Yes, but only initially and only for comfort. Full weight bearing is gradually increased as tolerated by the patient. It typically takes seven to 10 days after the procedure, until the patient is comfortable without the assistance of a crutch. An exception to this rule is if the patient also underwent a meniscal repair or other reconstruction of an additional ligament. In these cases, weight bearing may be restricted for several weeks.

The first two weeks after surgery concentrates on decreasing the swelling in the knee and regaining knee extension, with less concern about knee flexion. This is accomplished by elevating/icing the leg and riding the stationary bike.

Two weeks after surgery, the goal is for patients to achieve and maintain full knee extension and increase quadriceps muscle function. While knee flexion of only 90 degrees is the goal for this stage, obtaining full extension is more of a priority.

Usually by two weeks after surgery, patients are off crutches and demonstrate adequate muscle function, mobility, and comfort to allow driving. This is dependent on what leg has been operated on and how fast the patient recovers.

Although different surgeons and therapists will have slightly different protocols, the goal for all forms of post-operative ACL rehabilitation is the same: to return the patient to a normal and complete level of function in as short a time possible without compromising the integrity of the surgically reconstructed knee.

In order to achieve this goal, therapy is typically broken down into stages (or phases) of activity, with goals for each stage. Here is an example of a standard four-phase protocol:

• Phase I - First two weeks after surgery
• Phase II - two to six weeks after surgery
• Phase III - six weeks to three to four months after surgery
• Phase IV - four to six months after surgery
  • Patient must meet all the criteria for return to sports
  • No soft tissue or range of motion complaints
  • Physician must clear the patient to resume full activities
  • The goal is safe return to sports
  • Education of patient about possible limitations
  • Maintenance of strength, endurance, and proprioception
  • Functional bracing may be recommended by some physicians for the first one to two years after surgery for psychological confidence.
• Phase V - return to sport, usually at six months
  • Patient must meet all the criteria for return to sports
  • No soft tissue or range of motion complaints
  • Physician must clear the patient to resume full activities
  • The goal is safe return to sports
  • Education of patient about possible limitations
  • Maintenance of strength, endurance, and proprioception
  • Functional bracing may be recommended by some physicians for the first one to two years after surgery for psychological confidence.

Bracing after ACL surgery is purely dependent on patient and surgeon preference. Some surgeons never use bracing, some always use a brace, and others just use a brace during the immediate post-operative or rehabilitation phases. This topic still remains the subject of much debate in sports medicine literature. However, to this date, no long-term benefits have been found with regard to knee laxity, range of motion, or function following ACL surgery. Bottom line: If you feel more comfortable in a brace, then one will be ordered for you.

You will be seen within the first week, at two weeks, six weeks, three months and six-eight months. Specifically, the physician will look at and measure:

• The presence of continued pain and swelling
• Range of motion of the knee
• Laxity of the graft
• Strength of the leg
• Knee function during routine activities of daily living

As with any invasive surgical procedure, infection and bleeding are always surgical risks. Infection rates for arthroscopic ACL reconstructions are among the lowest for surgical procedures, with average infection rates typically cited at 0.2 percent. As for bleeding complications, the rates are much less than one percent, and consist mostly of isolated case reports.

Loss of motion following ACL reconstruction is the most commonly cited complication. This can range from minor and inconsequential to severe. Prevention is the first and most effective method for treatment of loss of motion. This is why compliance with post-operative rehabilitation is so vital to the outcome of the procedure, and why range of motion is started immediately post-operatively.

Another risk of ACL reconstruction surgery is continued anterior knee pain post-operatively. Anterior knee pain following ACL reconstruction also has been closely associated with loss of motion. Therefore, range of motion, quadriceps strengthening and patellar mobility are of primary concern during the first two weeks following surgery.