When does swelling typically resolve in a patient who is 6-12 weeks post-operative from a meniscal repair surgery?

Postoperative Swelling Resolution After Meniscal Repair

Timeline for Swelling Resolution

Swelling after meniscal repair typically resolves within the first 3 postoperative days to 2 weeks, with most significant improvement occurring in the initial week. 1

At 6-12 weeks post-operation, persistent swelling is not expected and warrants clinical evaluation for complications.

Expected Recovery Timeline

Immediate Postoperative Period (Days 1-7)

• Swelling peaks in the first 3 postoperative days and should show marked improvement with appropriate interventions 1
• Cryotherapy is effective in decreasing swelling during the first postoperative week 1
• Pain medication use decreases as swelling resolves during this initial period 1

Early Recovery (Weeks 2-4)

• Normal wound healing and resolution of surgical swelling should be complete by approximately 14 days 2
• At 2 weeks post-op, the surgical site should demonstrate no significant swelling, erythema, or drainage 2
• Patients should be progressing with knee motion exercises and quadriceps reactivation without effusion 1

Your Patient's Current Status (6-12 Weeks)

At 6-12 weeks postoperatively, swelling should be completely resolved. 3 If your patient still has notable swelling at this timeframe, this represents an abnormal finding that requires investigation for:

• Infection - Check for erythema, warmth, drainage, or systemic signs 2
• Repair failure or re-injury - Assess for mechanical symptoms, instability, or new trauma 3, 4
• Excessive activity or non-compliance - Verify the patient has been following weight-bearing and motion restrictions 3
• Inflammatory response - Consider underlying conditions affecting healing 4

Management of Persistent Swelling

Immediate Interventions

• Apply cryotherapy to reduce residual swelling and pain 1, 5
• Ensure the patient is not performing exercises that provoke effusion or pain 1
• Verify appropriate weight-bearing status - immediate weight bearing should only be tolerated with correct gait pattern and no pain, effusion, or temperature increase 1

Clinical Assessment Required

• Examine for signs of infection: significant swelling, erythema, drainage, or warmth 2
• Assess knee range of motion and compare to expected milestones 1
• Evaluate for joint effusion and tenderness 3
• Consider imaging if mechanical symptoms or repair integrity concerns exist 4

Common Pitfalls

• Allowing excessive weight bearing or joint compressive forces too early can disrupt the healing meniscus and cause persistent inflammation 3
• Progressing flexion exercises beyond 90 degrees with weight bearing prematurely creates large meniscal excursions and shear forces that impede healing 4
• Ignoring persistent swelling as "normal" when it extends beyond 2-4 weeks postoperatively - this always warrants investigation 1, 2