During the Hospital stay
On the day of surgery the leg is marked and final consent obtained. The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthesia and the anaesthetist will discuss post-operative pain relief. This will usually involve nerve blocks, which keep the leg and knee numb for a while, and analgesic tablets.
After the operation the leg is initially held still in a knee brace and depending on progress, gentle bending of the knee and walking with the aid of crutches is started on the first or second day. Most patients are able to go home on day 2 or 3 following surgery, with a date for removal of stitches or skin clips (usually 10 days) and an outpatient appointment (usually 6 weeks) when an x-ray is taken.
