MCL tears are a common knee injury, especially among athletes and middle aged individuals. In order to prevent further damage to the knee, it is important to get treatment for an MCL tear as soon as possible after the tear occurs, and surgery is sometimes necessary. There is some recovery time with MCL surgery. By understanding what to expect, you can plan ahead for the impact surgery will have on your day to day life.  

When Surgery is Necessary

In some cases, it is not necessary to operate on an MCL tear. It may be possible to relieve the symptoms of mild to moderate tears using physical therapy, especially if the patient is older and less physically active. For moderate to severe tears in younger, more active people, surgery is usually required.

How Surgery Works

The majority of MCL tears can be treated using minimally invasive, arthroscopic surgery. This type of surgery is performed in an outpatient clinic, and the patient is placed under conscious sedation instead of general anesthesia.

The doctor accesses the knee through a few small incisions, about the size of a pencil. Through one incision, a camera is inserted, producing a real-time video of the inside of the knee on a screen in the operating room. Through the other incisions, the doctor inserts the tools that are necessary to perform the surgery.

Expected MCL Surgery Recovery Time

One of the biggest advantages of arthroscopic surgery over open knee surgery is that the recovery time is shorter. Here’s what most patients can expect in terms of MCL surgery recovery time:

• You will return home the same day
• For the first few days, you will walk around for a few minutes each day, but won’t feel up to much more
• After a week, you will be able to return to a desk job and do other day-to-day activities
• You will participate in physical therapy starting around this time
• After about 6-8 weeks, you will be able to return to more physically strenuous activities, such as a physically active job
• It may take several months for athletes to regain knee function enough to be able to train at their previous level.

Some MCL surgery recovery time is inevitable. However, patients can take steps to minimize their recovery time by preventing any side effects from developing. Some key steps to take include learning about the symptoms of common side effects and when to call your doctor, and participating in physical therapy to the fullest extent possible.

If you suffer from knee pain, Dr. Howard Marans would be happy to hear from you. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call OC Orthopedic at (714) 979-8981.