What is the average recovery time after having arthroscopic knee surgery?

The average recovery time after having standard arthroscopic surgery is six to eight weeks, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. However, if the surgery involves ligament reconstruction, recovery time may take longer.

A patient can recover from arthroscopic surgery more quickly if he follows his doctor's advice explicitly relative to managing swelling, maintaining and dressing the wound, bearing weight on the knee, returning to work, driving a vehicle, and taking prescribed medications timely, suggests the AAOS. Rehabilitation exercises, in particular, play a vital role in expediting recovery and should be a regimented part of daily activity for several weeks post-surgery.