• Reference Number: HEY1503/2024
• Departments: Day Surgery (DSU), Paediatrics
• Last Updated: 30 November 2024

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give parents information and advice following a knee arthroscopy.  It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your Child’s Doctor.  If after reading it, you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for your child.

Your Child’s Consultant is_______________________

Surgery Performed By__________________________

Should you need any further help or advice please telephone

Day Surgery Unit, CHH

Monday-Wednesday 8am to 18:00, tel: 01482 624780

Acorn Ward, Women and Children’s Hospital, HRI,

Telephone: tel: 01482 382609 or tel: 01482 382679.

Or contact the Paediatric Community Team Telephone tel: 01482 344075

Follow Up

• The Community Paediatric Team has been contacted and will contact you to see if a wound check is needed.
• If an appointment is needed to be seen by the consultant/surgeon, this will be arranged for you and sent to you in the post.

School/Nursery

• Your Child will need to be off school or nursery two weeks.
• If you feel that your child needs a little longer to recover, we are happy for you to use your personal judgement.
• Return to sport and exercise – This will depend on the specific details of your child’s operation and should be discussed with the consultant.

After the Surgery

• Occasionally stitches may be used, these are usually dissolvable and do not need removing. If they do need removing or trimming you will be informed at discharge.
• The bandage and padding can be removed after 48 hours but the small dressings/plasters must be kept in place until your clinic appointment. If the dressing/plasters become loose, please cover with a normal plaster.
• The dressings/plasters must be kept clean and dry.
• If your child has been given exercises by the surgeon, nurse or physiotherapist please encourage them to follow the exercises.

Swelling Control

It is generally advised that your child should elevate their leg on a regular basis for the first 48 hours. This will reduce the risk of swelling and pain.

As long as there is no reduced sensation at the operation site then an ice pack maybe applied to the knee joint to reduce swelling also.

• Cover your knee with a damp tea towel or cloth. It is important that ice is not directly onto the skins surface as this can cause an ice burn.
• Use either ice in a polythene bag (ice pack) or a pack of frozen peas.
• Place the ice pack over the knee, holding this in place with a towel.
• Leave the ice pack on for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, inspecting the skin on a regular basis.
• It is normal for the skin to become cold and slightly red. If there is a significantly increase in pain, then remove the ice pack immediately

Pain Relief

We recommend that for the first 24 to 48 hours a suitable form of analgesia is given regularly if needed e.g. Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.  This should be the appropriate dose for weight and age.

Ibuprofen may not be suitable for asthmatics.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the Day Surgery Unit on tel: 01482 382609 or tel: 01482 382679.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats your child, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to your child. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your child’s condition, the alternatives available for your child, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about your child

We collect and use your child’s information to provide your child with care and treatment. As part of your child’s care, information about your child will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your child’s information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide your child with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your child’s doctor, or the person caring for your child.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about your child. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you need information about your child’s (or a child you care for) health and wellbeing and their care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.