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