Your surgeon, hospitalist, and anesthesiologist will determine what medications you should stop taking before surgery, when they should be stopped, and when you can resume taking them after surgery.

Generally, we recommend discontinuing NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and meloxicam, and blood thinners such as aspirin 5 days prior to your surgery.

Make sure to confirm these instructions with your provider as you may have more specific needs.

Someone from the surgery center or hospital will call you to discuss pre-operative instructions. They usually include the following:

• Follow your doctor’s orders regarding the taking of any medications the night before or the day of your surgery.
• Refrain from smoking after midnight the day of your surgery.
• Notify your surgeon if there is any change in your physical condition, such as a cold, fever, or flu symptom.
• If there is a chance you are pregnant, please notify your surgeon immediately.

• Bathe or shower the morning of surgery but do not apply any makeup.
• Wear low-heeled, comfortable shoes and loose, comfortable clothing such as t-shirts, button-down shirts, sweat pants, or baggy shorts that will fit over bandages or dressings following surgery. You can even wear your pajamas! The important part is that you are comfortable.
• Do not wear contact lenses or jewelry, as they may need to be removed and can be lost in the process. 

The time can vary depending on materials, availability of staff, and other factors. Our staff or the hospital scheduler will notify you when to arrive. 

The safe bet is to block off your day as preparation for surgery and recovery time can take some time as well as the surgery.

There are four types of anesthesia. Most commonly, general anesthesia is used. While, we also offer some procedures with local, regional and monitored anesthesia. Some surgeries require only one type but other surgeries utilize multiple types to prevent pain and feeling. The type of anesthesia you will receive is influenced by many factors including the type of surgery, the length of surgery, your health and medical conditions, medications you take, and the recommendation of the surgeon.

With general anesthesia, you are completely asleep and unconscious without being able to feel anything.

Local anesthesia is given with an injection, while you are awake. The surgeon will administer the injection before the surgery begins. Then the provider will test the area to ensure you do not have feeling. This is used for minor surgeries without the need for anesthesiology providers.

Regional anesthesia is performed by a trained anesthesiologist. They target a large nerve to provide numbness to a large body area. Often, this type of anesthesia is called a “nerve block.” The most common types are spinal, epidural, or peripheral. Some surgeries utilize this type with general anesthesia or can be done while you remain awake.

If you are sedated during regional anesthesia, then you receive monitored anesthesia care, also known as MAC sedation or twilight sleep. Monitored anesthesia care involves the administration of drugs to produce sedation and analgesia (insensibility to pain without loss of consciousness). In addition, your surgeon will administer local anesthesia to the operative site.

You will meet with your anesthesiologist prior to surgery and will have an opportunity to discuss your anesthesia options. Your anesthesiologist will inform you of the advantages, side effects, and possible complications of each. Depending upon the factors above, you may be able to participate in the decision-making and choose which method you prefer.

The length of surgery depends on the procedure being performed, the surgeon, and the method of surgery.

Small surgeries may last as little as ten minutes, while more extensive surgeries can last hours. Ask your provider how long the surgery is expected to last. 

The safe bet is to block off your day, as you will need time to recover from surgery.

You will be taken to the recovery room and monitored for a period of time. Then you may be discharged in outpatient surgeries or you may need to recover in a hospital room for the night or for a longer period of time.

If your operation was in a surgery center, a nurse will review post-operative home care instructions with you. She will explain any special instructions provided by your surgeon regarding diet, rest, medications, when to follow up with your doctor, and how to use any durable medical equipment such as a sling or crutches that is needed.

When you follow up with your doctor, he or she will discuss additional post-operative instructions such as rehabilitation, when stitches may be removed, when you can drive or return to work or school, how long you should use crutches or a sling, how long you should take pain medications, and more.

The time you spend in the hospital or surgery center will vary depending upon the type of surgery performed, the type of anesthesia that was given, and your individual needs. 

Outpatient surgeries require less time in our care. Typically, patients are discharged within one to three hours following the end of the surgery.

Most patients will not encounter problems after orthopaedic surgery. As with any surgery, however, there are potential risks, including:

• reaction to anesthesia
• bleeding
• infection
• blood clots
• nerve damage
• lack of full range of motion
• development of arthritis
• scar formation
• re-injury of the joint or soft tissue