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Orthopaedic surgery - lower limb

Procedure Sedentary admin Sedentary light manual Active light manual Heavy manual Physically demanding
Total hip replacement 2-8 weeks 4-8 weeks 6-8 weeks 12-16 weeks 12 weeks +
Hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement 1-2 weeks 1-2 weeks 1-2 weeks 6 weeks 12-26 weeks
Knee arthroscopy 2-14 days 2-14 days 2-4 weeks 2-4 weeks 2-4 weeks
Knee arthroscopic meniscectomy 1-2 weeks 1-2 weeks 2-4 weeks 2-6 weeks 4-6 weeks
Knee arthroscopic cartilage regeneration 2-4 weeks 2-4 weeks 12 weeks + 12-26 weeks 26 weeks*
Knee ACL reconstruction 2-4 weeks 2-4 weeks 3-6 months 3-9 months 6-12 months
Total knee replacement 4-6 weeks 4-6 weeks 6-8 weeks 12-26 weeks* 26 weeks*
Achilles tendon repair 2-4 weeks 2-4 weeks 12 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks+
Bunionectomy – distal osteotomy 2 weeks 2 weeks 2-6 weeks 8-12 weeks 12 weeks+

Bunionectomy – proximal osteotomy

 2-6 weeks 2-6 weeks 6-8 weeks 12 weeks+ 12 weeks+
First MTP joint fusion 2-4 weeks 2-4 weeks 6-12 weeks 12-24 weeks 12-24 weeks
Other toe fusion up to 2 weeks up to 2 weeks 1-4 weeks 4-6 weeks 6 weeks +
Cheilectomy 1-2 weeks 1-2 weeks 2-6 weeks 6-12 weeks 12 weeks
Ingrowing toenail removal of nailbed 2 days 2 days 1-2 weeks 2 weeks 2 weeks
Lower limb amputation 6-12 weeks 6-12 weeks 12-26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks+

*Unlikely to return