From the Research
The typical duration of knee surgeries is approximately 1 to 3 hours, with a goal of less than 80 minutes for total knee arthroplasty to minimize complications, as supported by the most recent study 1. The duration of knee surgeries can vary depending on the specific procedure being performed.
- Arthroscopic procedures like meniscus repairs or ACL reconstructions generally take 1 to 1.5 hours.
- More complex surgeries such as total knee replacements typically require 1.5 to 3 hours. The duration can be affected by several factors including:
- The complexity of the case
- The surgeon's experience
- Any complications that may arise during the procedure Patients should plan for additional time before and after the actual surgery for preparation, anesthesia administration, and initial recovery in the post-anesthesia care unit. Most knee surgeries are performed under either general anesthesia or regional anesthesia (spinal or epidural), with the anesthesiologist determining the best option based on the patient's health status and the specific procedure. Recovery time in the hospital varies from same-day discharge for arthroscopic procedures to 1-3 days for total knee replacements, with full recovery at home taking weeks to months depending on the surgery type. A recent study 1 found that the mean operation length for robotically assisted total knee arthroplasty was 59.4 minutes, with significant improvement after 30 cases, highlighting the importance of surgical experience and efficiency in minimizing complications. Another study 2 emphasized the importance of operative time in total knee arthroplasty, suggesting that an operative time goal of less than 80 minutes is helpful for minimizing complications. Overall, the goal of minimizing operative time while ensuring optimal outcomes is crucial in knee surgery, and surgeons should strive to achieve this balance to improve patient morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.