Concerns Following Surgery

The following is a list of “Normal” common events that can occur following surgery: .

• Swelling: Swelling or “effusion” in the knee is usual until up to three months after surgery. The main aim of the first phase of rehabilitation is to reduce swelling.
• Difficulty kneeling: After any operation on the front part of the knee it takes a while to tolerate kneeling, but with gradual progression through use of a cushion then carpet and finally a hard floor, this usually improves.
• Bruising: It is usual for bruising to appear down the leg as far as the inner aspect of the heel. It can be surprisingly tender and may take four to six weeks to disappear.
• Numbness around the knee: Numbness around the scars on the front part of the knee is common as the nerves that supply sensation to the skin crisscross around the front of the knee. This can be quite disconcerting for a few months and some residual area of reduced sensation may persist in the long term. Usually this does not affect the function of the leg.