Preparing for Surgery

Our skilled orthopedic surgical and nursing team will help you prepare for surgery and assist in making the process as comfortable as possible. You will be given specific pre-operative and post-operative instructions pertaining to your surgery. The following below provides general guidelines that every surgical patient should follow:

Pre-Operative Instructions

1. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the evening prior to you surgery.

2. Shower or bath the evening before or the morning of your scheduled surgical procedure.

3. If you wear contact lenses, do not wear them to the hospital the day of your surgery. Please wear eyeglasses if available.

4. Take only those medications that you are advised to take the morning of your surgery. Avoid aspirin based products. Be sure to advise your physician of any and all medications you are presently taking.

5. Wear loose fitting garments the day of your surgery. This will assist the hospital staff in getting you dressed for your discharge.

6. On the day of your surgery, please arrive at the hospital two-hours prior to your scheduled appointment. This will allow the hospital staff to prepare for your surgical procedure.

7. If you are having out-patient surgery, arrange for someone to bring you to the hospital and to take you home. The Same Day Surgery will not permit you to drive yourself home.

8. For your convenience, your doctor may provide a prescription for pain medication you may need following surgery. It may be easier to have the prescription filled several days prior to your surgery.

Post-Operative Care Following Orthopedic Surgery

1. It is important to keep the affected arm/hand/leg elevated to decrease pain and swelling of the operative site. As a general rule, for every 15 minutes the extremity is down, it should be elevated for 45 minutes above your heart. This is especially important for the first 48 hours. If instructed, use ice bags on the operative site.

2. If prescriptions are provided, have them filled immediately. Take these medications only as directed. Pain medication need not be taken if there is no discomfort. Other prescriptions should be taken as directed.

3. DO NOT remove surgical dressings or allow them to get wet unless instructed otherwise.

4. Check or have someone check the circulation to the affected arm/hand/hand every few hours for the first day. To check circulation you need to press a finger to the nail areas of your fingers or toes. This will cause the area beneath the nail to become white. Upon releasing or lifting off your finger, the area should return to a pink color.

5. If you have received instructions from you doctor about Physical Therapy regarding weight bearing on crutches, follow these instructions specifically. Also, if given exercises to perform, please do so as instructed.

6. If you have been given a sling to use, please use the sling to keep your hand or arm elevated. When you are resting, you may use pillows to keep your hand or arm elevated above the level of your heart. You may also use pillows to elevate a leg while in a resting position. These steps will help to alleviate and minimize swelling.

Discomfort following surgery can be minimized by carefully following the above instructions. Call our office immediately if:

• Excessive discomfort develops which is not controlled by the above measures.
• Excessive bleeding occurs through the bandage or dressing at the surgical site. Some bleeding/draining should be expected.
• The bandages/cast/dressing feels too tight.
• Fever or chills develop.
• If you have any questions or concerns.

A follow-up appointment should be scheduled following the surgery. Please call our office to schedule this appointment.