Can You Leave Immediately After Knee Surgery?
Knee injuries are a common occurrence, and for many, surgery is the answer. Some knee injuries are due to a fall, accident, or collision on the sports field. The resulting injury can be a ligament tear, meniscus damage, or patellar tendon injury that cannot be resolved conservatively. Surgery aims to repair the damage, often by replacing a ligament or tendon to stabilize the knee again. Traditional open surgery was once the gold standard, but now more patients benefit from arthroscopic knee surgery. One major benefit of arthroscopic knee surgery is that you can enter the operating room, undergo the procedure, and leave the same day.
How arthroscopic knee surgery works
Arthroscopic knee surgery uses minimally invasive incisions to access the damaged knee and perform the necessary procedure. Before surgery, imaging tests like a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan determine the extent of the injury. This scan also helps surgeons decide if arthroscopic surgery is the best course of action. With arthroscopic surgery, a small device called an arthroscope is passed through a small incision in the knee. The arthroscope has a light and camera attachment, allowing the surgeon to view the inner workings of the knee. The surgeon can then proceed with surgery through additional small incisions. For many patients, this procedure can be completed within a few hours, and they can leave the same day.
Small incisions, focused procedures
Traditional surgery involves a large incision several inches along the knee. The surgeon then moves tissue and muscle to access the knee and perform the necessary repair. Performing meniscus surgery or an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with this method means the patient must stay in the facility. Arthroscopic knee surgery can occur using 2-3 small incisions the size of buttonholes. Small incisions mean there is less pain, bleeding, and tissue trauma compared to traditional surgery. Large incisions and heavy blood loss are primary reasons why patients stay longer. Arthroscopic surgery is targeted and focused, with a clear plan and small surgical tools that can repair the joint without significant tissue loss. The result is less trauma, meaning the patient can leave within hours.
Using modern anesthesia
Traditional knee surgery often requires general anesthesia due to the incision size and potential pain that ensues. Anesthesia can now be customized based on the extent of the injury and type of procedure. Local and regional anesthesia can be used to help patients recover faster. The medical team can even tailor general anesthesia, so patients can leave sooner. Most patients will go through a short monitoring period before being discharged. Once medication wears off, staying in the hospital for several hours or days is unnecessary.
Recovery starts immediately
One of the biggest benefits of arthroscopic knee surgery is faster recovery. As incisions are small, tissue damage, blood loss, and inflammation are much less. As a result, patients can perform basic movements faster. Depending on the type of knee injury, patients can leave on crutches and start the recovery process at home. Arthroscopic knee surgery allows faster pain management and physical therapy (PT) with same-day discharge.
Get arthroscopic knee surgery today
Knee surgery is sometimes necessary to repair the root cause of pain, swelling, and instability. Arthroscopic knee surgery helps repair the issue through small incisions while limiting blood loss and tissue damage. The speed, innovation, and efficiency mean patients can leave the hospital the same day. Despite the privilege of leaving the same day, doctors take this process very seriously. Even with same-day release, the medical team ensures the patient is stable, lucid, and can move safely with proper assistance. This same-day discharge does not mean that the knee is healed, as PT and recovery take several weeks. Follow the doctor’s instructions after arthroscopic surgery to start the journey of a full knee recovery.
