Preparing for Joint Surgery
If you are contemplating a total knee or hip replacement, as your surgeon of choice, we want to help you achieve the best outcome possible. The planning and preparation for a total joint surgery can span a period of several weeks or several months, depending on your overall health and your needs for care after the surgery.
Smokers will be encouraged to quit smoking before surgery can be scheduled. Studies show a direct link between smoking and the healing process as well as the increased risk of infection. We work with your primary care physician and other specialists to get conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions under control before, during and after surgery.
As a part of the preparation for surgery, we will work with you to develop a plan for care after you go home from the hospital. We encourage you to discuss this with your family members before surgery is scheduled to find the best solutions for your personal needs. Physical therapy is an important component of the overall success of your joint replacement. We are proud to offer these services at our Fairhope and Foley offices.
After Total Joint Surgery
Now that you have a prosthetic joint, there are some safety tips that we, as your surgeons at Bayside Orthopaedics, would like you to remember.
Any procedure or infection that could result in bacteria entering your blood could cause your new joint to become infected and require its removal. Examples of conditions to be cautious of include dental work, bowel, bladder, prostate procedures, and any significant infections such as pneumonia or urinary infections.
If you are going to undergo a procedure in one of these at-risk areas, we would recommend being on antibiotics for the day of the procedure in one of these at-risk areas, we would recommend being on antibiotics for the day of the procedure and the day after. If you develop an infection, have it treated early. For instructions and prescriptions, please contact your treating physician or dentist.
We also recommend that you have an X-ray each year so that the plastic wear and condition of your joint can be monitored and intervention planned in a timely fashion, if necessary.
