What Is The Best Treatment For A Scar After ACL Surgery?
By Nichole Clayton, PT/Site Coordinator
Undergoing knee arthroscopic surgery can be scary, many patients instantly are concerned about what they can do to minimize the long-term scar on the knee. Immediately after surgery, you are concerned about the pain, the possibility of moving your knee again, and now this scar that you have on your knee. Don’t stress!
Scar Treatment for an ACL Surgery
ACL Surgery Scar Care
Initially, it is important to care for the wound itself and follow the surgeon’s recommendations. Typical instructions include keeping the wound clean and dry for the first 2-3 days following surgery to reduce the risk of infection and build tensile strength in the scar. Following this time, most surgeons will allow you to get the scar wet, depending on the type of closure used. It is still advised not to do any rigorous cleaning of the area, as the scar is still not strong, potentially adding increased tension on the wound. Protecting the wound from possible re-opening and limiting direct sunlight in the area will also help to decrease the appearance of the scar. This is a very important aspect in the recovery from an ACL Surgery.
Keep Scar Tissue Moving After Surgery
Moving the knee immediately following surgery is important and has been proven to be beneficial to overall success of the knee. But, early movement can hinder scar healing. Allowing early motion, creates wound tension which decreases the growth factor allowing fibroblasts to create tensile proteins, thus contracting and pulling the wound tightly together. When wounds are placed under tension, the fibroblasts are unable to lay down in a “basket weave” formation, and ultimately lay down in one direction. This gives the scar a raised appearance. In this case, the pros of early movement must outweigh the cons. With this said, gradual increases in ROM and keeping the steri-strips over the wound for 7-10 days, can assist in decreasing too much tension on the wound.
ACL Surgery Scar- Cosmetics
Over the counter creams such as Silagen which we sell at our San Marco Rehab location and scar massage are simple things that can be done at home to decrease the prevalence of the acl surgery scar. There are many different types of scar creams out there. Make sure to use them with caution, and be aware of how your skin reacts to certain products. Scar massage, with massage cream or over the counter scar creams, also assists in reducing the amount of scar tissue that develops in and around the scar. Be careful not to massage directly over the scar, until it is well healed.
Related Links:
- Torn MCL Surgery Recovery Time
- How To Prevent ACL Tears.
- Direct Access to Physical Therapy at JOI Rehab
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