ACL Repair - Post-op Instructions
activity
Plan to rest when you get home the day of surgery
For ACL repair, lying down with the knee on pillows above the heart level is best.
It is okay to wiggle your toes. This will help with circulation and reducing swelling.
bathing
Keep your surgical site clean and dry
You may tape some plastic wrap over you surgical site to take a shower or buy water-tight incision bandages from your pharmacy to cover the wound when in the shower.
diet
Gradually resume regular diet, as tolerated.
It is recommended to start with bland foods the night of surgery.
driving (if applicable)
No driving for 24 hours post-surgery due to the anesthetic or any time you are on pain medication.
Post-operative information
The medication which was used to put you to sleep with be acting in your body for the next 24 hours, so you might feel a little sleepy.
This feeling will slowly wear off. For the first 24 hours, you should NOT:
Drive a car, opoerate machinery, or power tools.
Drink any alcoholic drinks (even beer).
Make any important decisions, sign any important or legal papers.
For your safety, we strongly suggest, that a responsible adult stay with you for the rest of the day and during the night.
medication
Narcotic pain medications can cause constipation. You may take an over-the-counter stool softener or laxative, if needed.
A bowel movement every other day is reasonable.
Do not wait until you are in a significant amount of pain to take pain medication. Oral medications can take up to 1 hour to start relieving pain.
If you are on anti-inflammatory medicine such as Ibuprofen or Aleve, you may continue to take them. If you are able, you may take these medications in addition to your pain medication to help decrease inflammation and swelling. Ibuprofen 800mg every 8 hours OR Aleve 440mg every 12 hours.
Do NOT take any Tylenol in addition to pain medication.
Medication Refills:
Pain medication can be refilled before 4:00pm on weekdays but not available on weekends or holidays. It is best to call the office on a weekday morning to have this addressed. All pain medication prescriptions must be e-scribed directly by the provider during business hours.
Notifications
Please call our office to report any of the following:
Increase in drainage of the operative area lasting longer than 3 days.
Pain unrelieved by pain medication.
Swelling.
Fever greater than 101F.
Pain and swelling in your calf that is unrelieved by elevation.
Return to work/school
You may return to work/school at your physician’s discretion.
Weight Bearing
Full weight bearing as tolerated in 5-7 days
You may use crutches to offload the affected side for 5-7 days.
You may bend your knee immediately after surgery and range of motion exercises are encouraged.
Stay in knee brace for 4 weeks.
Begin Physical Therapy 2-5 days following surgery.
wound care
You may remove your dressing in 24 hours and apply band-aids to the surgery site.
If you have small tape strips on your incision sites, please leave these along.
You may tape some dry 4x4 gauze pads (available for purchase at any drug store or online) over the sites if you want to keep the site covered.
It is normal to have fluid drainage for the first day or so, but this should subside within 3 days.
Do NOT pull or clip any visible suture ends or stitches.
Do NOT put any ointments, lotions, oils, or creams on the incision sites.
Do NOT soak the affected area in a hot tub, bath tub, or pool.
Ice should be used to help control swelling and keep pain to a minimum. Frozen, peas, reusable gel packs, or crushed ice in a large freezer bag are idea.
If possible, use an ace wrap to hold the ice in place.
Apply ice for approximately 20-30 minutes, remove for 45-60 minutes, and repeat. Ice should be used for 3-7 days or until swelling is gone.
DO NOT APPLY HEAT PACKS.