How to perform functional exercises after knee arthroscopy

The knee joint is an important tissue of our knee. Once a disease occurs in the knee joint, it will greatly interfere with our walking, or even make it impossible to walk. The knee joint has the most activities, so it is also prone to problems. Currently, knee arthroscopy can treat many diseases of the knee joint, but how should functional exercises of the knee joint be performed after treatment? Let’s take a look together below.

1. Pain care

The patient should be evaluated within 1 hour after returning to the ward and then every 4 hours or at any time when pain occurs until 72 hours after surgery. While scoring, pay attention to finding the cause of the pain. Various factors can cause incision pain, such as too tight pressure bandage, blood accumulation in the joint cavity, excessive traction, activity, nausea and vomiting, etc. Try to avoid or eliminate the causes of pain. Pain can trigger a series of physiological and psychological reactions in patients, such as increased heart rate and breathing, increased blood pressure, and emotions such as pain, anxiety, and tension. According to the pain score and the patient's tolerance, timely select drug and non-drug methods for pain relief treatment, including pethidine, tramadol, etc. Non-drug measures include communicating with patients, providing psychological counseling, letting patients listen to music to distract their attention, etc., which also have a certain effect on alleviating pain.

2. Observe the distal movement, sensation, and blood circulation of the affected limb

After the operation, the patient lies flat without a pillow for 6 hours, and a soft pillow is used to raise the affected limb 20 to 30 degrees behind the knee, with the knee flexed about 5 degrees to promote venous return and reduce swelling. To prevent postoperative blood accumulation, fluid accumulation and short-term joint swelling in the joint cavity, a sterile cotton pad should generally be placed on the wound for pressure dressing. After returning to the ward, closely observe the dorsalis pedis artery fluctuations and peripheral blood circulation, skin temperature, and sensory movement. Remove the auxiliary materials that have been hardened by blood in time to prevent the fixation device from being too tight due to limb swelling. If you find that the extremities are purple, the skin is cold, numb, swollen and painful, it means that the bandage is too tight and you should notify your doctor in time to loosen it.

3. Prevention and care of joint swelling

To prevent blood and fluid accumulation in the joint cavity and short-term joint swelling, the wound should be bandaged with a sterile cotton pad and local cold compress should be applied. After the patient returns to the ward, an ice pack should be covered on the affected knee. It should be used within 2 to 3 days after the operation, 3 to 5 times a day, each time for 30 to 60 minutes. During use, be careful to prevent the ice pack from leaking and soaking the wound. If you feel severe pain and swelling in the knee, and the swelling is obvious, and the floating patella test is positive, it means that there may be a large amount of bleeding in the joint, and you should pay close attention to it. The doctor should be notified promptly to check the wound and perform joint puncture to decompress if necessary.

IV. Preventing Infection

Infection is a serious complication after knee arthroscopy. Antibiotics should be used according to the doctor's orders before, during and after surgery. Keep the incision clean and dry, and change the dressing strictly aseptically. The change in body temperature after surgery is the best clue. Three days after surgery, the body temperature should be measured every 6 hours, and the patient's temperature generally will not exceed 38°. If the body temperature rises significantly, or if the body temperature of patients with knee tuberculosis and suppurative arthritis rises instead of falls after treatment, and the wound hurts, you should check the wound immediately to determine whether it is infected, and notify the doctor in time. In addition to factors related to the incision itself, the cause of fever should also include systemic conditions, such as lung and urinary tract infections, constipation, etc. After symptomatic treatment, satisfactory results can often be achieved. Patients were encouraged to sit up 6 hours after surgery and begin to take care of themselves, such as washing their faces and eating by themselves without relying on others, and standing with the help of crutches. Drink more water, change body positions more often, and prevent lung infections, urinary tract infections, etc.

5. Postoperative rehabilitation training

Fibrosis appears histologically early after knee injury. If not mobilized early, joint movement may be restricted in about 4 days. If the injured joint is fixed, connective tissue fibers may fuse within 2 weeks, causing joint function loss. Early functional exercise can improve and increase local blood circulation, increase muscle strength, and restore joint and limb function. Patients are encouraged to get out of bed with the help of crutches 3 to 5 days after surgery, but are not encouraged to walk too much. The purpose is to relieve pain and swelling, prevent deep vein thrombosis in the lower limbs, and restore normal joint movement. Patients are guided in a planned manner to adopt the principle of active exercise as the main and passive exercise as the auxiliary, and gradually increase the exercise time.

Postoperative care for knee arthroscopy must be strictly carried out according to scientific methods, closely monitor changes in the patient's physical signs, and respond in a timely manner. Provide good postoperative care for patients after knee arthroscopy, ensure surgical effectiveness and postoperative recovery, and help patients be discharged from the hospital with satisfaction.