Effect of Physiotherapy on Post-Operative Recovery Following Knee Arthroscopy at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital

Knee arthroscopy is one of the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedures for diagnosing and treating intra-articular pathology including meniscal tears and ligament injuries. Post-operative physiotherapy is considered essential for restoring knee function, yet adherence and structured delivery of rehabilitation in Nigerian orthopaedic units vary considerably. This prospective observational study evaluates the effect of structured post-operative physiotherapy on functional recovery following knee arthroscopy at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), North Central Nigeria. Patients undergoing elective arthroscopic meniscectomy or diagnostic arthroscopy will be enrolled and randomised into structured physiotherapy and standard home-based care groups. Outcomes at four and eight weeks will include knee range of motion, pain scores using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional status using the Lysholm Knee Scale. Adherence rates and patient satisfaction will also be measured. The study hypothesises that structured physiotherapy significantly improves range of motion and reduces pain scores at eight weeks. Findings will be reported to the orthopaedic and physiotherapy departments at UITH to strengthen post-arthroscopy rehabilitation protocols. This research fills a local evidence gap on the role of physiotherapy in orthopaedic recovery in North Central Nigeria and supports advocacy for integrated rehabilitation care in surgical orthopaedic units. Keywords: knee arthroscopy, physiotherapy, post-operative rehabilitation, Lysholm score, Ilorin.