A common question that arises in the mind of the patient after an ACL tear is “When to do the surgery“?
Dr Firoz Ahmed, the leading Arthroscopy and Joints surgeon of North East explains the pros and cons of timing.
Best time for surgery is 4-6 weeks after injury.
What is the advantage of the delay?
Delaying the surgery by 4-6 weeks helps the knee to recover after the injury. The knee inflammation is reduced and Physical therapy can be initiated to regain the movement before surgery.
What is the risk of immediate surgery?
Dr Firoz Ahmed cautions that performing the surgery immediately after injury increases the risk of Arthrofibrosis. It is a dangerous condition where there is extensive scarring of the knee after surgery, leading to severe stiffness.
What to do in these 4-6 weeks?
It is very important to utilize this time to initiate Physical therapy and exercises so as to regain the range of motion and also build up muscle strength for optimum outcome.
