Osteochondral defects and treatments

After the operation
The first 24 hours
Pain relief
Your leg will be pain free and numb following the operation due to femoral and sciatic nerve blocks. When these wear off you will have a PCA pump to use as needed for pain relief.

Dressings/plaster
You will have a temporary plaster cast applied over the dressings. This will be changed into a light weight permanent cast on day one or two after the operation.
You will also have a compressive bandage around the knee from where the graft has been harvested.

Mobility
You will be taught how to use crutches on the first or second post operative day and will be non weight bearing for 6 weeks.

Length of stay
You will normally require two nights post operative stay.

At two weeks
Removal and reapplication of plaster cast takes place at 2 weeks postop, to allow wound check and suture removal.

At six weeks
You will gradually increase your weight bearing at 6 weeks postop, out of plaster cast .
Physiotherapy will commence, initially on a weekly basis.

At six months
At this stage you will be able to gradually return to sporting activities.

How long will improvement last ?
Research has so far shown patients benefiting up to seven years after this procedure has been undertaken.