Knee Surgery Postoperative Instructions
Diet
- Begin with liquids and light foods (jello, soups, etc.)
- Progress to your normal diet if you are not nauseated
For 24 Hours Following Surgery
- Be in the care of a responsible adult
- Do not drive or operate machinery
- Do not make important personal or business decisions or sign legal documents
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages
Activities
- Crutch/Cane walking as tolerated or necessary.
- Non / partial / toe touch weight bearing on operative leg.
- Considerable swelling is expected following surgery. Do not engage in activities which increase pain or swelling in your knee, such as stair climbing or long periods of standing.
- You should NOT stay in bed. Mobility is encouraged to decrease risk of blood clots.
- Ice in a waterproof bag should be applied to the knee for 10 to 15 minutes each hour for 24 to 48 hours after surgery.
- Elevating limb both when in bed and when up in a chair will help decrease postoperative swelling.
- Do not drive until approved by your physician.
- Return to work depends on your type of employment.
Exercise
- Begin exercises immediately for both legs and repeat each waking hour: “quad sets” (tightening thigh muscles), straight leg raises, and vigorous ankle and foot movements. At least 10 foot pumps every hour awake to help minimize clot formation.
- Range of Motion – Do not engage in range of motion until approved by your physician.
Wound Care
- A wrap has been applied from the foot to the thigh to minimize the risk of swelling. Loosen the ACE bandage if swelling of the foot or ankle occurs.
- Keep the surgical incisions/dressing dry.
- Surgical Dressing
- Your care team will note if you need to remove your surgical dressing on the second post-operative day as well as whether or not you must re-wrap ACE.
- Your care team will note if your surgical dressing will be removed by your physician at office visit.
- Cover wound with tegaderm or bio occulsive water proof band aide when showering. Avoid immersing in water. After showering remove waterproof band aide and replace with regular band aide.
Medications
- Strong oral pain medication has been prescribed for the first few days. Use only as directed. Do not combine with alcoholic beverages.
- When taking pain medication, be careful as you walk, or climb stairs. Mild dizziness is not unusual.
- Your care team will note the amount of ASPIRIN (enteric coated) you should take per day and how many weeks you should take it.
- Do not take medications that have not been prescribed by one of your physicians.
When to Call Your Physician
- Increasing swelling or numbness
- Unrelenting pain
- Fevers or chills, increasing redness around incision
- Color change of foot or ankle, calf pain, calf swelling
- Chest pain, rapid heart rate, rapid respiratory rate
- Continuous drainage or bleeding from incisions. A small amount of drainage is expected.
- Any other worrisome condition
Follow-Up Care
Please call to schedule a follow-up appointment (if not already done) for 7-10 days postoperatively at 978-818-6350.
- Begin with liquids and light foods (jello, soups, etc.)
- Progress to your normal diet if you are not nauseated
- Be in the care of a responsible adult
- Do not drive or operate machinery
- Do not make important personal or business decisions or sign legal documents
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages
- Crutch/Cane walking as tolerated or necessary.
- Non / partial / toe touch weight bearing on operative leg.
- Considerable swelling is expected following surgery. Do not engage in activities which increase pain or swelling in your knee, such as stair climbing or long periods of standing.
- You should NOT stay in bed. Mobility is encouraged to decrease risk of blood clots.
- Ice in a waterproof bag should be applied to the knee for 10 to 15 minutes each hour for 24 to 48 hours after surgery.
- Elevating limb both when in bed and when up in a chair will help decrease postoperative swelling.
- Do not drive until approved by your physician.
- Return to work depends on your type of employment.
- Begin exercises immediately for both legs and repeat each waking hour: “quad sets” (tightening thigh muscles), straight leg raises, and vigorous ankle and foot movements. At least 10 foot pumps every hour awake to help minimize clot formation.
- Range of Motion – Do not engage in range of motion until approved by your physician.
- A wrap has been applied from the foot to the thigh to minimize the risk of swelling. Loosen the ACE bandage if swelling of the foot or ankle occurs.
- Keep the surgical incisions/dressing dry.
- Surgical Dressing
- Your care team will note if you need to remove your surgical dressing on the second post-operative day as well as whether or not you must re-wrap ACE.
- Your care team will note if your surgical dressing will be removed by your physician at office visit.
- Cover wound with tegaderm or bio occulsive water proof band aide when showering. Avoid immersing in water. After showering remove waterproof band aide and replace with regular band aide.
- Strong oral pain medication has been prescribed for the first few days. Use only as directed. Do not combine with alcoholic beverages.
- When taking pain medication, be careful as you walk, or climb stairs. Mild dizziness is not unusual.
- Your care team will note the amount of ASPIRIN (enteric coated) you should take per day and how many weeks you should take it.
- Do not take medications that have not been prescribed by one of your physicians.
- Increasing swelling or numbness
- Unrelenting pain
- Fevers or chills, increasing redness around incision
- Color change of foot or ankle, calf pain, calf swelling
- Chest pain, rapid heart rate, rapid respiratory rate
- Continuous drainage or bleeding from incisions. A small amount of drainage is expected.
- Any other worrisome condition
Please call to schedule a follow-up appointment (if not already done) for 7-10 days postoperatively at 978-818-6350.