Soft Tissue Surgery

Soft-tissue surgeries are primarily aimed at improving joint stability by repairing the functional length of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Common soft-tissue surgeries of the lower extremity include tendon transfers, muscle repairs, fasciotomies, cartilage resections or repairs, and ligament reconstructions. Many of these surgeries are performed arthroscopically in an ambulatory surgery setting. However, in some cases, discharge may be delayed because of complications such as disruption of articular cartilage, menisci, and fat pads; damage to blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, and tendons; temporary paresis after tourniquet use; surgical instrument breakage; hemarthrosis; thrombophlebitis; and infection.