How long does it take to recover from microfracture surgery?

How long does it take to recover from microfracture surgery?

Depending upon the location of the microfracture and the size of the defect, it can take anywhere from 4 to 7 months to be able to heal to the point where patients can increase their activities and potentially initiate occasional impact activities.

How long does it take to walk after microfracture?

You will need to keep your weight off your knee for 6 to 8 weeks unless told otherwise. You will need crutches to get around. Keeping the weight off the knee helps the new cartilage grow. Make sure you check with your doctor to find out how much weight you can put on your leg and for how long.

How long after microfracture surgery can I run?

At 12 weeks post-surgery, most non-impact cardio work is allowed such as spinning, water running, elliptical, and treadmill walking. Spinning on the bike is done initially without resistance until the patient can achieve a comfortable 45 minutes pain free, and without post-exercise effusion.

How long are you on crutches after microfracture surgery?

Crutches or a cane may be needed for six to eight weeks. Physicians generally recommend that you avoid putting all your weight on the injured knee for about six weeks. As soon as possible after surgery, you should begin passive motion exercises either with a physical therapist or using a CPM machine while in bed.

How long is non weight bearing after microfracture?

Multiple clinical studies on microfracture have shown good to excellent results by requiring 2 to 8 weeks of nonweightbearing and then progressing to full weightbearing starting at 4 to 8 weeks.

Can you play sports after microfracture surgery?

Microfracture improves knee function and frequently allows for return to sports at the preinjury level, but deterioration of athletic function occurs in some patients. Several independent factors were identified that can help to optimize the return to athletic competition after microfracture in the athlete’s knee.

Is a microfracture painful?

The symptoms of someone needing a microfracture mimic the symptoms of a meniscus or cartilage tear. These include pain, catching, locking, swelling, giving way and noise (crepitation) upon joint motion.

What is the success rate of microfracture knee surgery?

The success rate: Microfracture does not work for everyone. In degenerative knees it has been found to have about a 75% success rate. Twenty two percent of the patients remain unchanged and about three percent are made worse.

What happens when microfracture fails?

When the healing is inadequate, pain recurs. Over time, in the absence of healing, the initial damage to the articular cartilage gets worse. This leads to post-traumatic arthritis, a loss of cartilage, and the deformation of the underlying bone.

What causes microfractures in knee?

Overview. Microfracture is a surgical technique that has been developed to treat chondral defects, which are damaged areas of articular cartilage of the knee. It is a common procedure used to treat patients with full thickness damage to the articular cartilage that goes all the way down to the bone.

How do you sleep after microfracture surgery?

The best sleeping position just after your surgery is sleeping on your back. You should make sure that your operative leg stays as straight as possible to avoid hypertension of the knee and keep proper blood flow to the surgery site. If you are sleeping on your back, put the pillow under your calf and knee.

Why do microfractures fail?

Microfracture fails because the body loses the race between durable healing and repeated injury from weight-bearing.

Is microfracture major surgery?

Microfracture surgery is an articular cartilage repair surgical technique that works by creating tiny fractures in the underlying bone. This causes new cartilage to develop from a so-called super-clot….

How long will microfracture last?

The surgery is quick (typically lasting between 30 and 90 minutes), minimally invasive, and can have a significantly shorter recovery time than an arthroplasty (knee replacement). Chronic articular cartilage defects do not heal spontaneously….

Is microfracture a major surgery?

When can I drive after microfracture knee surgery?

You may drive as soon as you are off pain medication and have complete control of your surgical leg (if it is the right leg) and don’t walk with a significant limp. If you are non weight bearing in your right leg this means NO driving until you are told you can weight bear on that leg.