Your Care After Arthroscopy
Dressing Care
You will have either an Ace wrap or a TED stocking on your leg. If you have an Ace wrap and it feels too tight, you may loosen it and re-wrap it.
After 48 hours, you can remove all of the dressing. Cover the incisions with Band-Aids® and put the Ace wrap or TED stocking back on. Change the Band-Aids® daily. Use the Ace wrap or TED stocking for comfort until your follow-up visit or until told otherwise.
If you have steri-strips (thin white tapes) instead of stitches, leave them in place until they start to peel off in about 7-10 days.
Activity
1. Keep the incision dry until the sutures are removed. If dissolvable sutures were used, keep the incision dry until your follow-up visit.
- After 48 hours, you may shower. Cover the incision with a plastic wrap such as Glad Press’n Seal or a plastic bag with the edges taped down. Do not let the water run under the plastic wrap or bag.
- Dr. Baer’s patients may remove dressing in 3 days. Also, you may shower after 3 days (no plastic wrap) allowing incisions to get wet.
- No swimming or water sports for 2 weeks.
- No tub baths or whirlpools.
2. Keep the leg elevated as much as you can for 48 hours to reduce swelling. If you are lying down, rest the leg on 2 or more pillows. Use the pillow to support the length of the calf keeping the knee straight. Do not let the leg dangle.
3. You may use ice to reduce pain. Apply an ice pack for 20 minutes then remove the ice pack for at least 1 hour. An easy ice pack is a bag of frozen peas or corn.
4. Slowly increase the amount of weight you bear (pressure) on the leg, (unless your doctor has given you other instructions). Slowly resume your normal activity level. Use crutches until you can walk comfortably.
5. You should begin the home exercise program in 24 hours. (Instructions are included.)
Medicines
You may be given an anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen or Naprosyn to reduce swelling and pain and to reduce the risk of getting a blood clot. You may also be given Tylenol® with codeine or another narcotic such as Vicodin. Follow the instructions given to you by your pharmacist. Do not drink alcohol or drive while on narcotic pain medicines.
When to Call the Doctor
Call if you have any of the symptoms listed below.
- Red, hot incision
- Pus-like foul smelling drainage from incision
- Temperature above 100.4° F for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart
- Bleeding which increases over an hour’s time
- Calf tenderness or swelling, or a warm, reddened area noted in the calf of either leg
Follow-Up Care
You will be scheduled for a follow-up clinic visit with your doctor.
Phone Numbers
Please call if you have any questions or problems.
Dr. Graf, Dr. Keene, Dr. Orwin’s and Dr. Baer’s patients call:
Sports Medicine Clinic (608) 263-8850 Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dr. Heiner’s , Dr. Gerald Lang’s and Dr. Richard Lange’s patients call:
Orthopedic Clinic Nurses’ Station (608) 263-7540 Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
After hours, the clinic phone numbers will give you the paging operator. Ask for the orthopedic resident on call. Leave your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.
If you are calling from out of the area, please call: 1-800-323-8942.
The Spanish version of this Health Facts for You is #6395.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 04/12/2010
Copyright © 01/11/2008 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #4262
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