• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hip and Knee News

News Resource About Hip, Knee and Orthopedic Surgery

medical care alert
  • Home
  • Hip Surgery
  • Knee Surgery
  • Ortho News
  • Resources
    • Hip and Knee Glossary
  • About/Contact

anesthesia

Day of Knee Surgery

by

What will happen on the day you’re having your knee operation?

You’re probably feeling nervous about your surgery!

Where will the surgery be done?

Of course it depends on the surgeon and medical team you’ve chosen. A good option is an advanced specialty orthopaedic hospitals and center.

Such centers are specifically equipped for joint replacement surgery and national data show a lower risk of complications, such as infections, and better outcomes from hip and knee replacement surgery at such specialized centers.

Your surgeon and medical team will offer you specific guidance and answer all your questions; please follow their instructions! The advice below is general; not every surgeon or hospital does things the same way.

What should I do the day of my surgery?

Remember not to eat or drink anything, including gum, candy, chewing tobacco, etc. Avoid make-up, nail polish on fingers or toes, perfume, or cologne. Remove all jewelry in anticipation of surgery.

Can I wear my contact lenses to surgery?

You will have to remove your contact lenses prior to going into the operating room. Bring glasses, if you have them, or bring solution and a holder for your contacts.

What type of anesthesia will I have?

Most surgeries are done using a spinal anesthetic with sedation. This type of anesthesia is safer than general anesthesia for knee replacement surgery. In addition, a combination of injections and pain pumps is common. If you have any preference for a certain kind of anesthetic, please let your medical team know.

Modern anesthetic drugs ensure that you will probably remember very little, if anything, about the surgery, and are developed to ensure your safety and comfort.

Where does my family wait and how will they know about surgery?

Your family will wait in a designated waiting room while you are in surgery. They will be informed when surgery is completed and you are in the recovery room. You will remain in the recovery room for approximately 1½ to 2 hours before going to your room. Your family can see you once you have arrived in your room.

How much will I hurt right after surgery?

Early pain is almost eliminated with modern pain medications and anesthetic techniques. Recovery from surgery is far more comfortable today than it was just a few years ago. Pain medications may be given through a fine catheter in your back, or may be injected close to the femoral nerve.

Pain medications may also be given in the form of a patient-controlled analgesic (PCA) which runs into the IV; you control the dosing. The knee joint itself and the tissues around it are injected with local pain-killing drugs.

If you have been taking narcotic drugs before surgery, pain control after surgery is usually more difficult since the body is already desensitized to the pain killers. In such cases, a higher dose of pain killers is often needed, and sometimes a combination of drugs.

Pain medicines can be given by mouth, intravenously, or by intramuscular injection. If you hurt, please let someone know; they want to minimize discomfort and customize the treatment for you.

By the time you leave the hospital, your pain will be properly controlled by an oral pain medication. Depending on the patient, such medications may be taken for several weeks to several months.

What can I expect right after surgery?

You will be monitored in the recovery room for an hour or two, and most patients are reasonably alert by this time.

You will notice a bulky dressing on your knee and an ice pack. This ice pack helps to control pain and swelling. You may also have a drain in the incision that looks like a plastic tube; this is removed within 24 to 48 hours. Expect a catheter in your bladder to keep urine drained; this is usually removed within 24 hours.

After an hour or so the nursing staff will take you to a private room on a floor that has expertise in caring for knee surgery patients. If your family plans to stay in the hospital room with you, please talk to your nurse so that arrangements can be made.

The nursing staff will coach you to take frequent deep breaths after surgery. You will have a breathing device to help with this. This is a plastic breathing exercise machine designed to prevent pneumonia and keep the lungs healthy.

You may have an overhead trapeze or lift on your bed to assist you in moving independently. This allows you to use your arms to move your body. Feel free to position your body in any way you want after knee surgery. The knee can be bent or straight after surgery, as you prefer. For the first night, it’s best to keep the leg slightly bent, on a pillow, since this reduces bleeding in the knee. The head of the bed can be in any position that you like.

You will have some sort of pump device squeezing your feet or legs to reduce the chance of a blood clot. You should exercise your calf and ankles regularly after surgery while you are awake. This will cut down the risk of a blood clot.

Right after surgery, avoid eating solid foods. It is better to start with liquids, and make sure that you can handle these before you progress to a full diet. Nausea is a very common side effect of modern pain medications.

Why are there foot pumps on my feet after surgery?

illustration of mechanical foot pumpsMechanical foot pumps are used to squeeze the feet and ankles intermittently after surgery in order to help reduce the chances of a blood clot forming. These are useful while you will be in bed and resting. They are commonly used while you are in the hospital; you will not use them at home.

Will I have nausea and pain immediately after surgery?

Typically, patients have little to no pain, but nausea is more common. This nausea can come from the anesthetic drugs or from pain medicines and we can help control it by changing pain medicines and prescribing anti-nausea agents if necessary. If you have pain, nausea, or any other disagreeable sensation, let the nursing staff know. They are very knowledgeable in controlling such symptoms. Usually, an adjustment of medications is all that it takes.

Is there a risk of falling in the hospital?

Yes. A combination of unfamiliar surroundings, surgery on the leg, narcotic medications, nerve blocks used to control pain, and the effects of anesthetic drugs can increase the risk of falling.

To avoid a fall in the hospital and after discharge, use a walker when out of bed, even if you feel that the knee feels fine and will hold you up. If in doubt, ask the nurse or therapist for assistance.

Filed Under: KNEE, Knee Surgery Tagged With: anesthesia, operation

During Hip Surgery

by

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about what happens during hip surgery and immediately afterward. Procedures vary somewhat at different hospitals and with different surgeons. Be sure to discuss this with your specific surgeon and medical team!

Who will be doing my hip surgery?

Hip surgery is complex, and requires judgment and experience. Although team members will assist, and resident physician or students may observe, you can expect that an experienced orthopaedic surgeon will perform the entire operation.

Where will the surgery be done?

There are many state-of-the-art, technologically advanced specialty orthopaedic hospital in the U.S.  Such centers are specifically equipped for joint replacement surgery and national data show a lower risk of complications, such as infections, and better outcomes from hip and knee replacement surgery.

What type of anesthesia will I have?

Typically, a spinal anesthetic with sedation will be used. This type of anesthesia is safer than general anesthesia for hip replacement surgery. In addition, we used a combination of injections and pain relief modalities. If you have any preference for a certain kind of anesthetic, please let your medical team know. Modern anesthetic drugs ensure that you will probably remember very little, if anything, about the surgery.

What should I do the day of my surgery?

Do not eat or drink anything, including gum and candy. Unless advised differently, take your blood pressure and heart medications with a sip of water. Avoid make-up, nail polish on fingers or toes, perfume, or cologne. Remove all jewelry in anticipation of surgery.

Can I wear my contact lenses to surgery?

You will have to remove your contact lenses prior to going into the operating room. Bring glasses, if you have them, or bring solution and a holder for your contacts.

Where does family wait and who updates them?

Your family will be in a waiting room while you are in surgery. They will be informed when surgery is over and you are in the recovery room. You will remain in the recovery room for approximately 1 or 2 hours before going to your room. Your family can see you once you have arrived in your room.

How much will I hurt after surgery?

There is very little pain early on, since modern pain medications and anesthetic techniques are very effective. Recovery from surgery is far more comfortable today than it was just a few years ago.

The hip joint itself and the tissues around it are injected with local pain-killing drugs.

If you were taking narcotic drugs before surgery, pain control is more difficult since the body gets desensitized to the pain-killers. In such cases, doctors typically prescribe a higher dose of pain-killers, and sometimes use a combination of drugs.

Pain medicines can be given by mouth, intravenously, or by intramuscular injection. If you hurt, please let someone know; they want to minimize discomfort and customize the treatment for you.

By the time you leave the hospital, your pain will be properly controlled by an oral pain medication. Depending on the patient, such medications may be taken for several weeks.

What can I expect right after surgery?

medical staff talking to patient in hospital roomYou will be monitored in the recovery room for about an hour, and most patients are reasonably alert by this time.

You will notice a bulky dressing and an ice pack on your hip. The ice pack helps to control pain and swelling. You may also have a drain in the incision that looks like a plastic tube; this is removed within 24 to 48 hours. Expect a catheter in your bladder to keep urine drained; this is usually removed within 24 hours.

After an hour or so the nursing staff will take you to a private room. If your family plans to stay in the hospital room with you, please talk to your nurse so that arrangements can be made.

The nursing staff will coach you to take frequent deep breaths after surgery. You will have a breathing device to help with this. This is a plastic breathing exercise machine designed to prevent pneumonia and keep the lungs healthy.

You will have an overhead lift on your bed to assist you in moving independently. This allows you to use your arms to move your body. Feel free to position your body in any way you want after hip surgery. For the first night, we prefer the leg slightly bent, on a pillow, since this reduces bleeding in the hip. The head of the bed can be in any position that you like.

You will have elastic stockings on and some sort of pump device squeezing your feet or legs to reduce the chance of a blood clot. You should exercise your calf and ankles regularly after surgery while you are awake. This will cut down the risk of a blood clot.

Why are there pumps on my feet after surgery?

Mechanical foot pumps are used to squeeze the feet and ankles intermittently after surgery in order to decrease the risk of blood clots. These are useful while you will be in bed and resting; you will not need them at home.

When can I eat after surgery?

Right after surgery, avoid eating solid foods. It is better to start with liquids and make sure that you can handle these before you progress to a full diet. Nausea is a very common side effect of modern pain medications. So, go slowly right after surgery to make sure you can keep liquids down, without nausea, before you progress your diet.

Filed Under: HIP, hip surgery Tagged With: anesthesia, operation, recovery

Primary Sidebar

Make It Easier to Get In and Out of Bed

sleep to stand bed

ORTHO NEWS

ROBOT-ASSISTED JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY | The Star

Enovis Launches ARVIS®, Only Augmented Reality Surgical Guidance System Designed Specifically to Improve Both Total Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery

Medical Minute: Joint Replacement Innovation

Dr. Richard Berger pioneers concierge telehealth program for joint replacement patients

Enovis Launches ARVIS®, Only Augmented Reality Surgical Guidance System Designed Specifically to Improve Both Total Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery

“Smart knee” technology allows knee replacement patients to actively engage in their care

QC Kinetix (Homewood) Offers Innovative Knee Replacement Alternatives in Homewood, Alabama

Physical Therapy at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee

Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee Hiring Clinical and Administrative Professionals

Stryker Coaches Lehigh Valley IronPigs Fans On Joint Health At Coca-Cola Park

Dr. Zachary Pharr joins Mid-Tennessee Bone and Joint Clinic

1,000th robotic joint patient, Glenwood woman gets life reboot | Health And Beauty

Copyright © 2022 · DISCLAIMER: Nothing here constitutes legal, medical, or other advice; all content relates to an individual perspective only. A professional relationship with a physician, or with a lawyer is built over time, with mutual investment, trust, and respect. This site is not a substitute for that.
~ THIS DOMAIN IS FOR SALE ~

Privacy Policy