We consider it a great privilege to provide your foot and ankle care. Thanks for the trust in allowing us to perform your surgery at American Fork Hospital. To ensure the surgical experience is as easy as possible, we feel information about the process is important for you. If there are additional questions that are not addressed here, please contact our office at 801-756-0765 and we would be glad to assist you.
Instructions Before Surgery:
1. As part of your pre-operative scheduling, it is recommended that you go directly over to the American Fork Pre-screen office to dill out the necessary paperwork (i.e. medical history form and current medications) and to provide instructions pertinent to your surgery. (Located in the Same Day Surgery Department at the southeast entrance of the hospital, just to the right of the lobby.)
- Pre-screen Office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00 pm.
- Questions or concerns regarding the hospital portion of surgery can be taken by the pre-screen nurse at 801-855-3262 or 801-855-3366.
- If unable to go directly to the Pre-Screen Office, you can fill out the necessary paperwork online after being contacted by the hospital’s registration department. Our office also has this paperwork and can fax it if you fill it out while in our office.
2. If you are on Coumadin or Plavix, we recommend that you discuss these medications with your Primary Doctor for possible adjustment of dosage for surgery.
3. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery (this includes water, gum, mints, and tobacco).
4. You will not be permitted to drive home from surgery, as it is not recommended for at least 24 hours after surgery. You must arrange for a ride, but may want to arrange for someone to be with you before, during and after the surgery. If your ride cannot stay the whole time, you can leave a phone number with the receptionist to contact them when you are ready to go home.
What To Expect Before Surgery:
1. You will be contacted 2-4 times from the hospital prior to surgery. These are important calls to ensure your safety and to avoid delays and cancellations on the morning of surgery.
2. The receptionist from the hospital will call you between 3:00pm and 7:00pm the day before surgery to tell you your check-in time. Report to the South East entrance of the hospital where it says Same Day Surgery at your scheduled time.
3. You will be given your prescription for pain medications prior to the surgical day. This will preclude you from needing to fill it on the day of surgery. This is done as a service for you, but unless otherwise instructed doesn't provide you with pain medication to take before surgery.
Instructions Day Of Surgery:
1. Bathe, shower and shampoo, but do not put any hair products in your hair, such as mousse, gel or hairspray.
2. Similarly, do not wear make-up, perfume, or powders the day of your surgery.
3. Bring a case for your glasses , contacts or dentures if you wear them.
4. Leave all valuables at home such as jewelry, piercings or metal hair accessories.
5. Take most medications (including diabetic, blood pressure, or heart medications) as usual, unless instructed otherwise. This can be done with a small "sip" of water if necessary.
6. Wear loose clothing as a large dressing will usually be applied to the foot and ankle after the surgery.
What To Expect Day Of Surgery:
1. You will be asked to sign multiple documents including consents for surgery, anesthesia and billing. These are a necessary formality.
2. You will be required to change your street clothes into a hospital gown as preparation for the procedure.
3. An IV will be placed and lab tests or EKG may be required. Any tests undertaken are to ensure decreased risks of anesthesia and the surgery.
4. You will be asked multiple times what surgery is being done and which foot is (or feet are) being worked on. This is not because we don't know, but is required to ensure the correct procedure is done on the correct foot. This is a protection for you.
5. Your doctor will come talk to you about the post-operative instructions and mark the foot or feet being treated prior to your surgery. This is a good time for any additional questions.
Instructions After Surgery:
1. Keep dressing dry, clean and unchanged. This is to minimize the chance for infection. If the dressing gets wet or comes off, you should contact your doctor.
2. Don't plan on doing anything for 48 hours. During this time the foot and ankle will hurt the most and swell the most, so elevation and ice are important. Elevation should be above the heart level for best results. Ice can be placed on the foot, at the ankle or behind the knee.
3. Since surgery instructions vary from surgery to surgery, please follow the instructions as given in the hospital that are created individually for your particular surgery.
4. Use your pain medications as instructed, and with food for best results. It is usually easier to stay ahead of the pain as opposed to trying to catch up. Ibuprofen can be added with approval of your doctor, but Tylenol (acetaminophen) is typically part of the pain medications prescribed and should not be added. If pain medications aren't working, loosen the ace wrap (outer most bandage ONLY) and see if pain improves before calling your doctor.
What To Expect After Surgery:
1. Pain is expected after surgery, but should be manageable with the pain medications.
2. Foot will swell for weeks (sometimes months) after surgery and may not have normal appearance for up to 1 year.
3. Dressing will be changed at the first post-operative visit usually within 4-5 days of surgery. You do not need to remove or change the dressing before this time.
4. Sutures will be removed at 10-14 days (unless on the bottom of the foot which will be 3 weeks) usually and must be kept dry until removed.
When To Call Your Physician (or Visit Emergency Room): Call 801-756-0765 (24 hours a day)
1. Excessive bleeding through bandage. Blood on the bandage is usually normal, if bleeding appears to be growing continually and may drip off bandage, this may be problematic.
2. Excessive swelling.
3. Redness extending from bandage.
4. Discoloration of toe. (Not bruising, but white, blue or black.)
5. Uncontrolled pain.
6. Fever (> 101.5), chills, nausea, vomiting.