You will be discharged from the hospital when you are able to get in and out of bed and walk with crutches or a walker. You can expect to be in the hospital after hip or knee surgery for approximately 2-3 days. For revision, complex hip or knee surgery, you can expect to be in the hospital for 4-5 days. Most patients will return home upon discharge. If you live alone, you will need someone to stop by every day to check on you.
Discharge Instructions
Post-operative Activities: Change your dressing daily.
Following total knee replacement, apply an ice pack to the knee 3 to 4 times daily for 20-30 minutes at a time.
Following total hip replacement, you may use ice on the thigh 3 to 4 times per day.
Use a walker or crutches at all times.
Wear the TED stocking on your operative leg at all times except during bathing.
Shower only if you feel safe; the incision may get wet.
Bear weight as tolerated on leg(s).
Elevate leg(s) 3 times daily.
Do not reach below your knees after hip surgery.
Do not drive for one month.
Medications
Take pain medicine as ordered.
In some cases, you may be prescribed the blood thinner Coumadin (blood will be drawn each week to monitor the coumadin), for 4-6 weeks. Do not take aspirin if on Coumadin. Most patients will take coated aspirin (Ecotrin 325 mg), one tablet twice each day with food for 6 weeks after joint replacement.
Take your usual medicine at home. (Do not take aspirin or arthritis medicine if on Coumadin.)
What to Expect
Pain. While some pain is to be expected, we'll help you manage it.
Swelling at the incision and ankle.
Bruising (sometimes, all the way to the foot).
Follow-up Appointment
Usually 10-14 days after surgery, your doctor will give you follow-up instructions and directions.
When to Call a Doctor
Fever: If your temperature goes over 101 degrees. It is common to run a low-grade temperature less than 101 degrees. Be sure to breathe deeply and ambulate.
Redness: If skin around the wound becomes more red or swollen. Expect some redness along the incision line.
Drainage: If there is increasing drainage coming from the wound. Most incisions should stop draining by the time you are discharged from the hospital.
Odor: If there is a foul smell that seems to come from the wound.
Swelling: If you experience excessive leg swelling not relieved with ice and elevation.
Pain: If you have severe pain and swelling in the calf or thigh of the leg.
Breathing: If you have shortness of breath or trouble breathing.
Chest Pain: If you experience chest pain, severe indigestion or a feeling of heaviness in the chest.
FOLLOW-UP
You will have a follow-up appointment made for you and an appointment card given to you upon discharge from the hospital. If you need to change the time please call our office at 884-5200. Usually, we like to remove the clips or sutures 10-14 days after the surgery date.
Following total joint replacement, you will need to take antibiotics prior to having dental cleanings and dental procedures. Antibiotics should also be taken prior to colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, urinary tract procedures and abdominal surgery. The antibiotics are important to prevent any infection from seeding into the total joint. Always let your doctor or dentist know that you have a joint replacement when you schedule any type of procedure. Antibiotics are not required when you have a "common cold".
We will be here to encourage and support you during your surgery and rehabilitation and will help you in every way possible. It is important that you continue to follow-up with your orthopaedic surgeon as requested. After the first year, you will be followed every 1-2 years. It is important to x-ray your prosthesis every 1-2 years to look for any early problems, such as loosening and/or wear that may not be obvious to you. Approximately ninety percent of hip and knee implants are still functioning well at 12-13 years after surgery. If they loosen or wear out, they can be redone with a good result once again. Sometimes all that needs to be done is to change the liner (plastic).
As your orthopaedic surgeon, I keep all of the data regarding you and your prosthesis so I can review your progress. I feel this documentation allows me to offer the best possible care to my patients and ensures that I will make changes in your treatment when I feel they are appropriate.
Our common goal is to have the best results possible!
