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UW Health SMPH

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Your Pre-surgery Work Up

 

  • You will be seen by a physical therapist and receive an ice unit, a knee brace, and exercise instructions.
  • In the Sports Medicine Clinic, you will be seen by the Learning Center nurse, the physician assistant, and the doctor.  The Learning Center nurse will talk with you about how to get ready for your surgery.  You will have a physical exam, and the surgery will be explained to you. You will sign the consent forms.
  • You will be given prescriptions for pain medicine at your work-up.  Fill them before your surgery. We will explain how to take them. 
  • On the day of your work-up, you will make your post-op clinic visit as well as your first Physical Therapy (PT) visit.  You may be seen the day after surgery or in one week. 

 

The Day before Surgery

 

The day before your surgery, or on Friday if your surgery is on Monday, you will be called by the Outpatient Surgery staff.  They will tell you what time to arrive at the hospital and when to stop drinking and eating.  They will also remind you about any medicines you need to take or stop the day of your surgery.

 

After Surgery

 

Incision and Drain Care

 

  • You may go home with a drain in your knee.  Before you leave, the nurse will show you how to empty and measure the drainage.  If the drain becomes full, empty it and write down the amount.  Empty it in the morning and let your doctor know how much total drainage you had.  It is normal to have a decrease in the amount of drainage overnight and to see clots in the tubing. 
  • Do not remove the dressing on your knee.  Keep the dressing dry.  Dr Ablove’s patients: Remove your dressing after two days, and put Band-aids® over the incisions.
  • 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.
  • Do not shower or bathe while the drain is in your knee.
  • You must keep the incision site clean and dry until the stitches are removed.

 

Daily Activities

 

  • Once your drain is out, you will be able to shower in your brace.  Be sure to keep your dressing dry.  Cover the brace with a plastic bag.  You can close the top of the bag with tape or the TED stocking you wore on your other leg.  If your dressing becomes wet, it can be changed at PT or by contacting the clinic, if you need supplies.  If your dressing gets wet, you are at higher risk for an infection.  You may need to change your dressing every 2 to 3 days.
  • You may stop wearing the white TED stocking on your other leg after about 24 hours. The TED stocking helps prevent a blood clot from forming in your leg.  Once you are walking often, you no longer need the stocking on the leg we did surgery on.  If you have lower leg swelling, tenderness, redness in either leg, please contact the clinic right away.
  • You may not drive on pain medicine.  You may drive when you feel comfortable driving and are no longer taking pain pills.  If we have repaired your ACL on your right leg, you should not drive until your brace is unlocked.  This may be 2 weeks or more.
  • When you return to work varies for each person.  Even if you have a desk job, you may want to be off work for 7-14 days.

 

Comfort

 

  • Use your ice unit often, especially for the first 48 hours.  After 48 hours, remove the polar care pad from your knee for at least 8 hours per day to prevent moisture from forming and getting your dressings wet.
  • Use your pain pills as prescribed.  We suggest that you start with Percocet®, which is stronger than Tylenol® #3.  You can then try Tylenol® #3 as your pain becomes less.  If you cannot take these pain pills, you may take extra-strength Tylenol®.  Do not operate machines or equipment while you are on narcotics.

 

Other Information

 

If your ACL graft is taken from your patellar tendon, you may have numbness on the outside of your leg.  This numb area may become smaller over time, but you will always have some numbness in that part of your leg.

 

Follow-up Care

 

  • You may return to the clinic the day after surgery.  If you have a drain, it will be removed and your dressing will be changed.
  • If you come back the day after, you may bring your ice unit and AC plug with you.  It may help you feel better after the drain pull and PT.  Be sure to take pain medicine before you leave home to come to the clinic.
  • You will have PT after the drain is removed.
  • Be sure to keep the incision site clean and dry until your follow-up visit. 

 

Dr. Graf’s patients will have their stitches removed two weeks later. 

 

Dr. Keene uses stitches that will dissolve.  Your body will absorb the stitches so there is no need to have them removed. 

 

Dr. Ablove’s patients will have their stitches removed within 1-2 weeks.

 

Nearly all patients having their ACL repaired go home the same day.  If, for some reason, you must stay overnight, your nurse will explain how to care for yourself at home before you leave.

 

When to Call the Doctor/Clinic

 

  • Bleeding from incisions or drain site that does not stop when you put pressure on it
  • Sudden increase in swelling
  • Lower leg or foot becomes cool and/or dusky or blue
  • Calf tenderness, swelling, or warm, reddened area noted in calf of either leg
  • Signs of infection
    • Warmth and/or redness
    • Cloudy pus-like drainage or clear drainage that lasts more than 1 day
    • Chills, fever greater than 100°F for 2 readings taken four hours apart
    • Increased pain even though you are less active
    • Increased swelling

 

Phone Numbers

 

Please call if you have any questions or problems.

 

Sports Medicine Clinic: (608) 263-8850, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

 

Orthopedic Clinic: (608) 263-7540, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

 

After hours, the clinic phone numbers will give you the paging operator.  Ask for the orthopedic resident on call.  Be sure to leave your name and phone number with the area code.  The doctor will call you back .

 

If you live out of the area, please call: 1-800-323-8942.

 

The Spanish version of this HFFY is #6394.

 



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: 03/11/2009

Copyright © 01/11/2008 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #5061

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