Knee cartilage surgery is a good treatment option if you want to live a normal life again. The damaged cartilage does not tend to heal itself. In case of a cartilage defect, one may need to undergo surgical treatment, especially if the patient is young and active, and symptoms are not improving with conservative management. Before going for surgery, many people are curious to know about the pros and cons of knee surgery and how long it takes to recover from knee cartilage surgery.
This article deals with such queries and discusses how you should care for yourself for rapid recovery.
Recovery From Knee Cartilage Surgery
Recovery after every surgery takes time. The same goes for cartilage repair surgeries. These surgeries, including OATS, OCA, and MACI, take substantially longer, often taking 6 to 9 months for a full recovery. Some simplest (least invasive) procedures, such as chondroplasty, which involves smoothening degenerative cartilage, and trimming away unstable cartilage flaps, may take as little as 6 weeks to fully recover.
Recovery depends on the patient’s overall age, exercise routine, and other lifestyle factors. Patients who have had surgery will have some pain and swelling in the first few weeks after the procedure. In the first 2 weeks, the priority will be to control the pain, with painkillers, reduce swelling, and improve range of motion.
Depending on the site of the cartilage repair, they may be asked to do protected weight bearing for the first few weeks, to allow the cartilage repair to occur. They may also need a knee brace, to help restrict motion, if their cartilage defects are over the anterior compartment. Most people are allowed to weight-bear as tolerated after 4 to 6 weeks, in the absence of pain and swelling. Knee braces are gradually weaned, and strengthening and conditioning of the operated knee joint occur after that. Within the first 3 months, patients regain range of motion, with reduction in swelling and pain. Between 3 to 6 months, patients regain strength of the operated leg, and commence static cycling, and brisk walking. Some patients may recover quicker and may be able to do light jogging before 6 months. Return to sports such as football, and basketball, may take a further 3 months to occur.
The recovery time for people who have undergone this surgery differs from person to person, making it difficult to anticipate how long it will take a certain person to fully recover from the surgery.
Factors That Affect Recovery From Knee Cartilage Surgery
The following factors affect how long it takes to recover from knee cartilage surgery:
- Age of the patient
- Weight of the patient
- Medical history of the patient
- Compliance to initial protection and knee bracing
- Size and location of cartilage defect
- Nature of cartilage repair done
- Compliance to physiotherapy and strengthening routine
How To Encourage Rapid Recovery After Knee Cartilage Surgery?
The following are tips to enhance recovery:
- In the first weeks after surgery, the aim is to reduce swelling, by icing the knee, elevation, gentle compression.
- You can shower following surgery. You may be given a shower cover to help keep the wound dry until stitches are removed.
- Adhere to the bracing and weight bearing restrictions to protect the cartilage repair
- Do the exercises recommended by your physiotherapist and your surgeon
- When you are exhausted, take a rest. Listen to your body. If you experience pain and swelling in the knee, it is a sign that the knee needs rest.
- Even in the absence of pain and swelling, do not walk, stand or climb for prolonged periods in the first weeks after surgery. Check with your surgeon first.
- You will usually be allowed to range your knee in bed, to improve your range of motion. The allowed angles on the knee brace will also be changed to allow more motion as the cartilage repair heels, and you will usually be allowed to progress in your weightbearing.
- You may consume your regular diet.
- If you experience any increasing pain, persistent swelling, fever, wound discharge, or anything that worries you, communicate with your surgeon.
- The physiotherapist will have a program to gradually improve your strength, before introducing agility drills, and allow you to return to play. Be patient.
Role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with collagen scaffold?
Cartilage has no blood supply and hence it usually does not heal well on its own. There are several different techniques for cartilage repair, each with its pros and cons. One of the popular techniques used currently for cartilage repair is the use of bone marrow concentrate with collagen scaffold. Bone marrow concentrate, harvested from the iliac crest, or from the knee, is infused onto a collagen scaffold and placed in the area of cartilage defect and glued in place. The knee is protected for the first few weeks to allow the chondrocytes to migrate from neighboring cartilage and make use of the collagen matrix on the scaffold to lay down new cartilage. Once the scaffold is stable, after about 4-6 weeks, the patient is allowed gradual increase in weight bearing, and the knee brace is weaned. As weight bearing is increased and the knee is strengthened, the patient is followed up for symptoms and knee swelling. Return to sports may occur around 6 to 9 months.
Take Care Of Your Knee
We hope that we have helped to answer any queries you may have about cartilage repair surgery.
Your health is our priority. Cartilage injury can be painful, and difficult to heal. With the proper diagnosis, assessment and discussion, we believe we can help guide you in what are the available options to deal with this difficult problem. If you have any queries, please write to us at hello@hipkneeortho.com.sg. In case of any injury, contact Knee Specialist Singapore. Our knee specialists are just a single call away.
