Before & After Surgery

PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS





Before Surgery

  1. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery.
  2. If you have a change in your condition leading up to surgery, notify the office. (cough, cold, flu, fever, infection, etc.)
  3. Allergies to medications and the specific reaction to those medications must be disclosed to your surgeon.
  4. Make sure your surgeon knows all medications you are taking.
  5. You will normally be allowed to take blood pressure medication with a sip of water the morning of surgery.
  6. If you are taking any NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs): (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.), notify the office. You may be asked to discontinue these medications one week prior to surgery.
  7. You will need to arrive at the surgery center one hour prior to the scheduled time of your procedure to be prepared for the surgery.
  8. Wear loose, comfortable clothing to the surgery center.
  9. Take your medication list, health history, and insurance information with you to the surgery center.
  10. Do not take any valuables to the surgery center.
  11. You must have someone else drive you home after your procedure. Due to anesthesia, you may not drive yourself. Public transportation is not acceptable.

armwrestling

cheerleader

After Surgery

  1. You should have a responsible adult with you for the rest of the day and during the first night for your safety.
  2. Begin your dietary intake with sips of water and a light diet slowly advancing to solid foods as tolerated.
  3. A sore throat may occur and should resolve in 24-48 hours.
  4. Some nausea is common.
  5. Perform deep breathing exercises every hour while awake for the first 24 hours.
  6. Elevate the affected limb as much as possible for the first 48 hours.
  7. Apply ice to the area in 20 minute increments for the first 24-48 hours.
  8. Wiggle your fingers and toes frequently.
  9. Do not drink alcohol for the first 24 hours.
  10. Do not drive a motor vehicle for the first 24 hours.
  11. Do not operate dangerous machinery for the first 24 hours.
  12. Do not make critical decisions for the first 24 hours.
  13. Do not sign legal documents for the first 24 hours.
  14. If you had lower extremity surgery, crutches or a walker will normally be provided and specific weight-bearing instructions will be given.
  15. If you had arthroscopic knee surgery, weight-bearing as tolerated on crutches is the standard instruction.
  16. Keep the dressing clean and dry.
  17. Notify your surgeon if you experience excessive bleeding from your surgical site.
  18. Contact your surgeon if your pain is not controlled adequately with the pain medication as prescribed.
  19. Contact your surgeon if numbness persists after the anesthetic wears off.
  20. If you have a splint or cast, contact your surgeon if you develop numbness, increasing pain, excessive swelling, inability to move fingers or toes, cold digits, pale or blue skin.
  21. If you had arthroscopic surgery—you may remove the dressing in 24 hours and apply bandaids over the incisions. Keep the wounds dry.
  22. Avoid strenuous activities for the first 24 hours and as directed by your surgeon.
  23. Contact your surgeon if you notice signs of infection: excessive redness, excessive swelling, excessive warmth, fever, red streaks, increasing pain, pus-like drainage.
  24. Call your surgeon’s office to schedule a follow-up appointment.