POSTOPERATIVEINSTRUCTIONSFORDAY SURGERY– SHOULDER

1. Advancedietastolerated–startwithliquidsand softsolids.

2. Takemedicationaccordingtoinstructionsonthebottle-ifgivenantibioticstake themuntil finished.

3. Yourarmwillbeheavyandnumbfromthenerveblock. Be carefulwith your arm.Usea slingwhenonyour feet. Theblockwillgenerallywear offin12-24hours.

4. Whensittingorlyingyourmayremovethesling.Toreduce swelling,youmayelevatethe handand elbow,thismayalsohelp withpain. An icepackoricetherapyunitmay be appliedforcomfort.

5. Activity:

  1. Youmay movethearmtopaintolerance. NOLIFTING.
  2. Donotuse exercise equipmentunlessotherwiseinstructed.
  3. Restthedayofsurgery;noexertionalactivityuntilseenbyyour doctor.
  4. Youmaytaketheslingoffwheninbed orchair–place apillow ortwoundertheelbowforcomfort.

6. Keeptheincisionsdry–coverwithplastic toshower.“Pressn’Seal”worksgreat.

7. Some surgicalfluid,withsmallamountsofblood,normallycomesoutofthesmallsurgical incisions.Reinforcethedressingwithadditionalbandagesasneeded. Itis normalfor arthroscopyfluidtoleakoutofthesurgicalportalsontothebandage.After48hoursyoucan removethedressingand applyaband-aidorbandageovereachincision(coveringthesuture). Do notremovethesuture.Ifyouarehavinghomehealthcare,thenursewillusuallychange thedressing. Ifyouwish, wewillchangethedressingintheoffice atyour 1st post-opvisit andyoumaydonothing.

8. You shouldhaveafollow-upappointment inapproximately5-10days.

9. Notifyyour doctorofanychills,fever (greaterthan101F), excessivedrainage, chestpain,severe painornumbness inthearm24 hoursaftertheprocedure.

10.Ifhomehealthcarehasbeenrequested,theywillcontactyoudirectly,IFITHAS BEENAUTHORIZEDbyyourinsurance.

11.Otherinstructions:

1

SURGICALINFORMATION-SHOULDER

FOLLOW-UPAPPOINTMENTS

Aftersurgery,youwillbeseenintheoffice approximately7-14 daysfollowingthe

operation.Please contactouroffice at(801) 797-8000 tosetupthatappointment.

MEDICATION

Followingsurgery,youwillneed pain medication. Aftermostprocedures,preventative

antibioticswillalsobeprescribed.Youwillbegivenapaperprescriptiononthedayofsurgery tohavefilled onyour wayhomefromthefacility.

ANESTHESIA

Surgery,ofcourse, requiresanesthesia sothatyoucanbepain-freeand comfortableduringthe operation. Inmostcases,your shoulderwillberenderednumbbyaspecialnerveblockfor12- 24 hoursfollowing your operation.Duringthistime period,youshouldbecarefultoprotect your arm,asitwillnothavenormalfeeling. Thenerveblockwearsoffgradually,and asyourshoulderawakensandyoubegintofeelpain intheshoulder,you shouldbegintakingthepain medicationto"stayahead ofthepain". Itisverydifficulttocatchup withpain,ifitbecomessevere,ratheritispreferabletotakethemedicationand keepthepainunder controlahead of time.

ICE

Followingsurgery,icehelpscontrolbothswellingand pain. Itisstronglyrecommendedthat youapplyicearoundthedressings. Do not apply ice to skin for more than 10 minutes. You can use “ice gels” and “ice pads” without any restrictions. Keepthedressingsdry.

SHOWERING

Followingsurgery,youmayshower.However,youarerequestedtokeepthesurgicaldressing

and thesurgicalareadry. Forshouldersurgery,thisinvolvescoveringtheareawithplastic and takingcarenottogetwaterdirectlyonthesiteofthedressingand surgicalarea.

YOURINCISION

Ifyouhavehad arthroscopic-onlysurgery,thedressingsshouldcomeoff2-3daysfollowingthe operation.Band-aidsshouldbeplaced overtheportals. Donot removethesutures. We willdothatintheoffice. Ifyouhave anincision,typicallyahomenursewillchangethebandages. Alternatively,thebandagemay bechangedinthe office atthefirstfollow-upappointment.

SURGICALSKINCLEANSER

Atthetime ofsurgery,your shoulderwillbesterilelycleaned withasoapthatcontainsadhesive. Someofthisadhesivesoapfrequentlywillremainonyour skin followingtheprocedure.Toremovethisadhesive,itisrecommendedthatyouuse nailpolishremover(oracetone)asa solventandthenrinsetheareacarefullyonce thesurgicaladhesivesoapisremoved.

ACTIVITY

Followingsurgery you should"takeiteasy". Eachpersonexperiencespainand discomfort

individually,andyouwillreturntoyour activitiesgraduallyaspainand discomfort allows. You arediscouragedfromparticipatinginanyexerciseorrigorousactivitiesimmediatelyfollowing thesurgery.ThespecificreturntoactivitiesshouldbediscussedwithDr.Davidsonorhisstaff. Yourarmhasbeenplacedinasling,and thisslingisforyour comfort.Youmaytake itoff

whenyouaresittingorresting.

HOMEHEALTHCARE

Inmostcases,homecarehasbeenrequestedtoprovideyouwith in-home nursingand physical

therapy. Thishomecareisdesignedtoreplace carethatpreviouslywasprovided inthehospital whenthese surgeriesweredoneasanin-patient.Thenurseswillusuallychangeyour bandages, monitoryour vitalsigns. Thephysicaltherapistwill institutemotion, astheyhavebeen instructed.Unfortunately,tocomplywiththelaw,thereisalargeamountofpaperwork involved,and thesehomecareworkersarerequiredtoobtainlengthyamountsofinformation, whichmayseemredundant toyou.Thisis,infactmandatedby law uponthem. If,atanytime, youfeelhomecareisnolonger necessary,youarewelcometoterminatethehomecareand explain suchtotheagencyprovidingyour care.

SLEEPING

Sleepingisverydifficultfollowingshouldersurgery.Manypeopledescribesleepinginaneasy chairasthebestoptionforthefirstfewnights. Alternately,otherpeopleproptheirbodyand

armwithextra pillowsinbed.Youmaysleep eitherwithorwithoutthesling,whicheveris easierforyou.Typicallypatientsareable tosleep onthesurgicalshoulder6to8weeks

followingsurgery.

DRIVING

Resumptionofdrivingisuptothepatient.Youmay,ofcourse, not drivewhiletakingpain

medication. Followingshouldersurgery,mostpeopleresumedriving2-4weeks followingthe operation.

CONTACTSWITHOUROFFICE

Duringbusinesshours,ifyouhave anyproblemsorquestions,youmaycontacttheofficestaffat ourmainnumber(801) 797-8000.

Afterhour’semergencyonly,youmaycontactouransweringservice(atourmain number)and theprovideroncallwillrespondtotheanswering service.

1

1