Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 3/8/2009

Question
On 3/25 I will be having the first of 2 knee surgeries.  After a year of PT with 2 different therapists, 2 doctors, my GP and my ortho, decided further action was necessary.  I had 3 MRIs done.  My right knee was the original problem and that's been going on for over a year. It was determined to be chondral malasia patella.  About 3 months ago, the interior of my left knee began to hurt and that's when I went to an orthopedic dr. (who I trust because he just preformed corrective surgery on my mother's shoulder) and upon examination of the MRI results and physical, decided to try a cortisone shot in each knee.  The relief was only temporary.  Now we've decided to progress to surgery and he's decided to begin with the left, as he feels the plica is causing the pain, and that would be the easier of the 2 recoveries.

Can you please tell me what to expect from the 2 surgeries in terms of the surgery, pain, recovery, PT, and %range of movement?

I feel the better informed I am before the surgery, the less anxious I will be.  I look forward to hearing back from you.

Answer
Hi Amanda
I am an anaesthetist and so cannot comment on the recovery from the surgical perspective. Pain after knee surgery is usually fairly easy to control with oral tablets. It also tends to settle fairly quickly but does rather depend on the procedure done. Division of a plica is a fairly minor thing and recovery from this is very quick - normal movement after just a few days. The other surgeries proposed I am not sure of and I think you would need to discuss with your surgeon or someone who is clear about what he plans to do.
Sorry
Dr Ian Jackson