What warning signs after cartilage restoration surgery mean I should call my surgeon?

What is normal in the first weeks

Swelling, bruising down the shin and an ache that is worse at the end of the day are common after cartilage restoration, especially if an osteotomy or bone graft was part of the operation. Swelling usually reduces gradually over several weeks with elevation, ice and following the weight-bearing and brace instructions. Some aching after physiotherapy sessions is also expected.

Call the team the same day for

• A temperature of 38 degrees or higher, shivers or feeling generally unwell
• Redness spreading around the wound, increasing warmth, or discharge or a bad smell from the wound
• Pain, tenderness or swelling in the calf, which can be a sign of a blood clot
• A sudden, marked increase in knee swelling or pain that does not settle with rest
• A fall or twist followed by a pop, new locking or inability to bear weight as instructed
• Numbness or tingling in the foot that is new or getting worse

Go to emergency care immediately for

• Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath, which can mean a clot has travelled to the lungs
• Coughing up blood
• A cold, pale foot

Later warning signs

Months after surgery, a knee that keeps swelling after activity, new catching or clicking with pain, or a plateau where progress stops are reasons to bring your review forward. These do not always mean failure; often the rehabilitation load needs adjusting. Dr. Gelber's team at Aman Hospital can see you, examine the knee and decide whether imaging is needed.