How long does it take to recover from chondromalacia patella surgery?

With a mild problem, your recover may take only 1-2 weeks. With a severe problem, your recovery may take up to one or two months, or may not be helped with arthroscopic surgery, and may require further surgery. You may have rough surface cartilage under your kneecap, with pain and tenderness (called chondromalacia).

Can surgery fix chondromalacia patella?

What Is Chondromalacia Surgery? Skilled orthopedic surgeons perform chondromalacia surgery to remove damaged cartilage. The goal of the surgery is to help remove or fix damaged tissue and cartilage surrounding the knee. The surgical procedure can be done via arthroscopy or open knee surgery.

What surgery is done for chondromalacia patella?

Surgically correcting this problem is relatively easy with arthroscopic surgery. The surgery for this consists of arthroscopically smoothing off the roughness on the underside of the patella (patella shaving), which looks like icicles, and – most importantly – performing a lateral retinacular release.

Can chondromalacia patella be cured permanently?

3. Can chondromalacia patella be cured? True chondromalacia patella, which involves a breakdown of the cartilage surface, cannot be cured. However, a program of weight loss, avoidance of those activities which make it worse, exercise, and/or injections may help one to make it become asymptomatic.

How long will I be off work after a knee arthroscopy?

Most people can get back to desk work, school or sedentary activity 3 to 5 days after surgery. If your right knee was operated on, it may be up to 2 weeks before the knee is strong enough to hit the brakes to drive safely. For heavy work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks before the leg is strong enough to allow for working.

Is arthroscopic surgery painful?

Signs, symptoms and function to be expected following surgery: Pain is quite common, most often in the area where you had pain before surgery, in the soft tissues below the knee cap, over the athroscopy wounds and occasionally the whole knee.