More than 80 percent of patients returned to walking, yardwork and other light activity one week after having knee arthroscopy, according to a study published in the January 2008 issue of Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery. The study is the first to measure recovery times for patients having the procedure.

Knee arthroscopy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures. In it, a miniature camera is inserted through a small incision. This provides a clear view of the inside of the knee and helps orthopaedic surgeons diagnose and treat knee problems.

"Patients preparing for this procedure all want to know: 'How soon after surgery can I return to activity?'" says James Lubowitz, MD, the study's lead author and director of the Taos Orthopaedic Institute in New Mexico. "This study provides the most definitive answer yet."

The study found:

• 88 percent of patients described knee-related activity restriction before surgery;
• 82 percent of patients returned to walking and other light activity one week after surgery.
• After two weeks, 94 percent returned to light activity, and after four weeks 100 percent of patients were active.

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