What to expect after surgery in hospital
Most ACL reconstruction and Meniscal Resection procedures are done under general rather than local anaesthetic, so you'll be unconscious during the surgery.
Once you have recovered from the anaesthesia, patients may go home the same day. However, there may be occasions when surgery is performed as an inpatient, and you will stay in hospital overnight.
Your knee will be bandaged, and you may also be given a Cryo/Cuff (a waterproof bandage that contains iced water to help reduce swelling) to wear. Your knee will feel sore, and you should expect swelling and bruising to develop within 2-4 days after your surgery.
You may be given medication to control the pain and thin your blood to help prevent clotting.
While you’re in hospital you should rest and keep the leg elevated.
How long will I be in hospital?
Most patients are discharged from hospital between 1 and 3 days after Meniscal and/or ACL surgery. Some hospitals now offer the surgery as a day case procedure, meaning that you will be able to go home the same day, provided that the surgical team are satisfied that it is safe for you to do so.
Before you leave the hospital, an occupational therapist may assess your physical ability and your situation at home and make arrangements for any special equipment.
How soon will I be up and about?
Rehabilitation starts immediately. Generally, you’ll be helped to stand within two to four hours after your operation. The hospital staff will help you get up and start walking with crutches as quickly as possible. They’ll help you practice walking with crutches and explain how much weight you can safely put on your injured leg. Depending on your surgery, your surgeon may ask you to wear a knee brace or splint to help protect the graft.
If you’ve had minimally invasive surgery or an enhanced recovery programme, you will be able to walk on the same day as your operation.
Though you should be able to move about by yourself with your crutches, while you’re in hospital you should rest as much as possible, with your leg elevated– for example, by putting a pillow or two under your heel when you're lying-in bed.
Preparing to come home
You will need to ensure that the arrangements you made for your transport home are still in place. Your care team will explain the discharge process to you. It’s important that you are as ready as possible to leave hospital and stay healthy once you're home, so make sure to ask any questions and raise any concerns that you may have.
Let your care team know if you will not be staying in your own home following discharge.
Your care team may give you a discharge summary which should contain the following information:
The procedure you have had done.
Medicines you are taking.
Details of any wound care arrangements.
Dates or schedules of outpatient appointments.
Specific post-operative instructions.
In addition, you should clarify the following details with your care team – as this information is important, you should take notes:
Any ‘red flags’ to look out for, and what to do if you notice them.
Any specific dietary requirements.
How to care for your wound, and what happens if the dressing starts to come off.
When and how to obtain additional or alternative medication.
Do’s and don’ts for your knee.
You may also need a “Statement of Fitness for work” from your GP or hospital doctor to provide to an employer
Write down the name and phone number of someone on your care team who you can call with any questions after you leave the hospital.
If you are taking additional medication home, it’s important that you are clear about how much to take and how often.
Before going home, you need to be able to:
Get in and out of bed independently.
Control your pain.
Eat and drink normally.
Walk comfortably with an aid.
Go up and down the stairs.
Do your exercises independently.
Understand how to protect your knee while it heals
You must also make the following arrangements to help you at home, assuming you haven’t done so already:
Any additional help or support at home, such as visits from a district nurse or paid home help.
Any required equipment is fitted, such as a raised toilet seat.
Any home adaptations are made, like grab rails in the bathroom.
References
NHS 2022, Arranging Care Before You Leave Hospital
Arthritis Foundation, Prepare for Going Home After Surgery https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/joint-surgery/after-surgery/prepare-for-going-home-after-surgery