ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY RECOVERY

Recovery after orthopedic surgery

Here, at the clinic, we see a large number of patients who have undergone various orthopedic surgical procedures, ranging from anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions and knee arthroscopies to rotator cuff repairs or arthroplasties. Although each surgery is unique and different, there are a number of basic concepts regarding the most appropriate time to return to preferred activities.

The goal of recovery after any orthopedic surgical procedure is for the repaired or reconstructed structures to heal together. This is achieved by keeping the structures together for long enough for them to fuse. During surgery, the tissues are "abraded" to induce bleeding and are then joined together with the help of pins, anchors, or sutures. As long as the tissues do not shift, healing will occur. Achieving this positive outcome, together with regaining a full range of motion and adequate muscle strength, is the ultimate goal. So, how much time is needed for the tissues to heal?

Bone healing

Bone healing generally occurs within about 6-8 weeks. This can be checked by means of a follow-up X-ray. Once the fracture has healed, the newly formed callus will actually be stronger than the original bone. This does not mean that the injured limb will be back to normal parameters at 8 weeks, it only means that the bone will have healed.

Soft tissue healing

Almost everything that is not bone falls into the category of soft tissue. This includes ligaments, tendons, and cartilaginous structures such as the labrum or meniscus. Soft tissue healing occurs within approximately 8-12 weeks. Since there is no way to check whether healing has occurred, we usually play it safe, waiting for 3 months to pass since the surgery and then going by symptoms.

Enough time has passed for the tissues to heal, what do we do now?

Well, here we start to discuss the gray area of recovery. During the initial phase, focused on protecting the healing process, the activities performed are designed to maximize strength and mobility, while still allowing the tissues to heal. If all the goals have been met by the end of this period (8 weeks for bone and 12 weeks for soft tissue), general conditioning activities can be started. If everything is functioning within normal parameters, the patient can return to baseline physical condition after another 4 weeks or so. If the body has a difficult time adapting to the newly healed tissue, the patient may need to wait even several months. This varies from person to person and from injury to injury.

YOU CAN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT HERE for a consultation or evaluation.

Centrokinetic is the place where you will find clear answers and effective solutions for musculoskeletal conditions. Our clinic, dedicated to musculoskeletal disorders, is organized into the following specialized departments:

Orthopedics, a department composed of a highly experienced team of orthopedic surgeons specializing in sports traumatology.
Pediatric Orthopedics, where sports injuries in children (ligament and meniscus injuries), spinal deformities (scoliosis, kyphosis, hyperlordosis), and foot deformities (hallux valgus, hallux rigidus, equinovarus foot, flatfoot, cavus foot) are treated.
Neurology, featuring a state-of-the-art department where consultations, electroencephalograms (EEG), and electromyography (EMG) examinations are performed.
Medical Rehabilitation for adults and children, a department specialized in the rehabilitation of professional athletes, spinal disorders, and children with neurological and traumatic conditions. Our extensive experience includes treating more than 5,000 professional athletes.
Medical Imaging, with the clinic equipped with ultrasound and MRI systems dedicated to musculoskeletal conditions, complemented by an experienced radiologist, Dr. Cosmin Pantu, specialized in musculoskeletal imaging.
Rheumatology, a comprehensive department dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with non-surgical musculoskeletal disorders.
Vascular Surgery, a highly specialized department focused on the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases affecting arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels.
Psychology and Speech Therapy. Neurological and musculoskeletal conditions can have a psychological impact on patients, which is why we believe complete recovery requires addressing both the physical condition and its psychological consequences.
Neurofeedback. This innovative method helps improve concentration, reduce anxiety, and achieve emotional balance through a simple and interactive process.