Return to Driving After Arthroscopic and Related Surgery: Before Patients Start, How Do We Know They Can Stop?

When can patients safely drive after surgery? It is neither scientific nor prudent to rely on patients' judgment. A goal is to develop objective data to support evidence-based decision making and lower the rate of postoperative complications, including motor vehicle accidents. In addition, it is obvious and evidence-based that patients should not drive while wearing an arm sling, and while the evidence is mixed, we advise that patients should not return to driving while taking opioid pain medications.