The following information is generalized post-operative information for our patients. Please contact your physician’s medical assistant to obtain more specific details about what to expect post-operatively.

Post-op dressings

• It is important that the dressings placed after surgery remain dry. Please check carefully with your surgeon regarding showering.

Bruising/numbness/swelling/bleeding

• Bruising is common following surgery and will go away with time.
• Some temporary numbness, tingling, and tightness due to the surgery or anesthesia used is normal following surgery. If this persists for more than 24 hours please contact the office.
• Some degree of swelling of the affected area is normal post-operatively. It is critical to elevate the affected limb above the level of your heart to minimize swelling.
• It is not unusual for the surgical dressing to become stained with a small amount of blood in the days following surgery. If bleeding becomes excessive, please contact our office.

Fever/signs of infection

• A low grade fever (less than 101°) is common within the first 3-5 days following surgery.
• If you experience a fever over 101 °, develop increasing pain at the site of surgery, or notice redness or drainage from the surgical incision, please contact the office to arrange for a prompt evaluation.

Pain medication

• Your treating physician may prescribe you a narcotic pain medication to help control post-operative pain on an “as needed” basis. If you have questions regarding the medication that you have been prescribed, please contact your physician’s medical assistant.
• All narcotic pain medications can cause side effects, the most common of which include nausea, constipation, and drowsiness. A stool softener is important to help prevent constipation. Always take your pain medicine with food. After 3 days, try to minimize your pain medication.

Follow up

• At your post-operative evaluation, your surgical dressings and cast/splint may be removed. We will review your post-operative program and answer any questions you may have. Please contact your physician’s medical assistant for the time frame in which your follow up visit should be scheduled for.

In case of emergency

• In case of emergency, please contact our office and ask to speak to your physician’s medical assistant. If you experience an emergency after hours or on the weekend, your call will be patched through to the answering service, and the physician on call for the practice will assist you.