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POST-SURGERY
INSTRUCTIONS
Helping you navigate your postoperative course
By Dr. Justin Saliman
Surgical Wound Care
A plastic surgery closure is performed, therefore there are no staples/sutures to be
removed.
A waterproof dressing is placed
so you may shower immediately.
Please remove the dressings in 7 days.
How to use the Knee Brace
Note: If you did NOT wake up with a brace on your knee, then you can disregard this section.
Many meniscus repairs require use of a brace for 6 weeks to
protect the sewn tissues as they heal.
Reminders:
- In this case you would have surgery in the late afternoon that day
- You can then stay in a hotel that night and fly home any time the following dayYou may unlock the brace and bend the knee to 90 degrees immediately.
- You may place weight on your operative leg with the brace locked in extension (0 degrees)
- You ARE NOT to put weight on the leg when it is bent to avoid compromising the surgical repair. (i.e don’t put weight across your knee when rising from a seated position, getting into and out of a car, etc.)
- When showering it’s ok to stand and put your weight on your leg while it’s straight. You do NOT need to use the brace in the shower, just be careful.
About the GekoTM
You may wake up from surgery with a GekoTM device on your operative leg.
This is a neuromuscular electrostimulation device that aims to reduce the risk of DVT.
It can be removed after 24 hours.
What does the geko™ device do?
The geko™ device increases arterial, venous and microcirculatory blood flow in the lower limbs. The FDA approved use is for:
- Increasing local blood circulation
- Immediate post-surgical stimulation of the calf muscles to prevent blood clots
- Stimulation of the calf muscles to prevent venous thrombosis in non-surgical patients at risk for venous thromboembolism
- Edema reduction
Medications
You are not required to take any medications after surgery.
That said, you were prescribed 3 medications to help make you comfortable after surgery:
- Tramadol: pain medication
- Colace: stool softener (to treat constipation which can happen if you take the Tramadol)
- Diclofenac sodium: anti-inflammatory medication (please wait until 2 days after surgery to start this one)
Isometric Exercises
To avoid losing muscle strength, perform isometric exercises as frequently as possible (i.e. when watching TV, reading a book, relaxing, etc.
Rehab Protocol
The rehab protocols can be found on our website
https://meniscustears.com/ under Resources → Protocols.
The right Protocol for your case will be emailed to you after your first postoperative appointment.
Physical Therapy
Meniscus repair
You will start physical therapy
6 weeks after surgery.
The script will be emailed to you after the first postoperative appointment.
Meniscus repair + MISHA
You will start physical therapy within one week of surgery.
The script will be given to you
before surgery.
Postoperative Appointments
- You will meet with Dr. Saliman 1 week following surgery via Zoom or in person.
- At this session, we will discuss the surgery, review the intra-operative imaging, and answer any questions you have.
- You will meet with Dr. Saliman again at the 3 month postoperative mark (after you’ve completed 6 weeks of therapy)
- If you need anything from him in the interim he is available
