Post Surgery Care

It is expected that you may experience bruising and minor blood oozing from the wound. It is rare to experience continued or large blood loss, and you should inform your doctor if this occurs.

During the trip home, do not consume any food or drink. This is because vomiting or nausea is often caused by the combination of food, car motion, pain relievers and anaesthesia. At home, do not eat until you are hungry, and do not eat greasy food until 24 hours post-surgery. Rather, eat a light meal first.

Take your pain relief medication as recommended by Dr Brumby-Rendell. Consume this medication when you start feeling uncomfortable and before your pain becomes severe. Pain will be controlled less effectively if you do not consume the medication until you are experiencing severe pain.

If a cast is used post-surgery, do not get this wet, as this can reduce the device's ability to effectively immobilise the limb. Wound infection may also result, as the dressings may also become wet.

Elevate your foot or arm above your heart level. For lower limb injuries, keep your "toes higher than your nose" to prevent swelling. Swelling of the limb can increase pain as cast tightness can increase, affecting blood circulation.

If it is within your abilities, wiggle your toes or move your fingers regularly to improve blood flow and circulation.

Regularly move other joints throughout the day to prevent stiffness.

It is important that you DO NOT poke items into your cast. This can lead to sores developing and increased risks of infection.

Constipation is often a side effect of pain medicines. You may wish to take laxatives or stool softeners, which can be bought without a prescription at a pharmacy. Do not be embarrassed by passing gas post-surgery, as this is normal and signifies the return of bowel function. If, after 2 days post-surgery, you have not experienced a bowel movement (pooped), please take a laxative provided by your nurse or pharmacist.

If you regularly experience constipation issues, tell the nurses what usually resolves this issue, as this may be implemented in the hospital setting.

You will be capable of resuming most activities shortly; however, activities that bring pain to the affected area should be avoided. To avoid falls, tape electrical cords and remove any loose carpets. A long-handled shoehorn or sponge, grabbing tools, or other assistive devices can be utilised to reduce the number of times you must perform reaching or bending movements.

The skin is cut during the procedure to access the surgical site. It is normal for a scar to form in this location. Movement may be restricted due to stiffness if a joint experiences scarring; however, most forms of stiffness can be treated with physiotherapy. If there is severe scarring on a joint, further surgery may be required to remove scar tissue and increase function. Bone fractures normally result in bone scarring also. After 6 weeks of the fracture, scar tissue changes to new bone.

Skin and tissue damage is minimised through keyhole (arthroscopic) techniques. This form of surgery also leads to reduced joint stiffness and postoperative scarring, and function returns earlier.

For more information regarding recommencing driving and flying after your surgical procedure, use the following links: Driving After Surgery and Flying After Surgery.

After surgery, you can normally safely resume sexual activity after 4 to 6 weeks.

To avoid increased pain, do not sleep on the side on which the operation was conducted. Alternatively, sleep on the opposite side, your back, or your stomach.

To promote healing, muscle strength and motion restoration, you will engage in various specially designed exercises prescribed by Dr Brumby-Rendell. These exercises can be advised in consultation with your preferred hand therapist or physiotherapist.

Make sure you keep your extremity (elbow, knee, leg, wrist or hand) elevated if you had surgery here. Apply ice, enclosed in a wet towel, on the affected skin for up to 20 minutes at a time. To decrease pain and swelling and aid fluid return to the heart, keep "toes higher than the nose".

If a joint is immobilised for more than 2 weeks, stiffness often results. It is normal to expect this stiffness after removing your splint if your specific procedure requires immobilisation for a prolonged period. Motion range can be regained through physiotherapy. Surgery may be necessary to release scarred tissue if the motion range is affected; however, this is rare.

Before your surgery, discuss with your employer and Dr Brumby-Rendell how much time you wish to take off work. You should expect a minimum of 2 weeks at home after surgery to ensure wound protection and recovery from anaesthetic. If your workplace is hazardous or a "full work clearance" is required by your employer, you may need to wait a longer duration before recommencing full responsibilities. Ask if your employer is comfortable with you recommencing work with lighter or modified duties, or if they need a "full work clearance". Ensure you have these conversations before your procedure to avoid disappointment.

Medicine will be prescribed by Dr Brumby-Rendell to aid with pain reduction. Medication to reduce blood clot risks or antibiotics to decrease infection risks may also be advised. Take medications only as directed.

For a week post-surgery, infection risk is present. Immediately after surgery in a sterile environment, a dressing is placed on the wound to decrease this risk. This dressing should not be disturbed or removed until your progress is assessed at a follow-up appointment.

Do not look at your sutures until this appointment. Usually, Dr Brumby-Rendell uses a waterproof dressing, so this can be "patted dry" after you shower. To avoid the dressing prematurely detaching from the incision site, ensure it remains clean and dry.

Generally, complications will not arise from titanium or stainless steel implants. However, if the metal is at risk of causing irritation due to its positioning, it may require removal. Metals or prosthetics under the skin rarely sound the alarm of airport detectors; however, this has happened at times.

Your internal metal can be indicated with a medical card or bracelet. Talk to your GP about obtaining one of these. There have been cases where implants must be removed due to metal allergies, but this is very rare.