Finding out that surgery of any nature needs to take place can be overwhelming and daunting. This is especially true for orthopedic surgery. When going through the process of organizing surgery with an orthopedic surgeon in the Fox Valley, there are many steps that need to be taken.
After consultation with a range of doctors and surgeons, the surgery will be scheduled for a certain day. It is important that the pre-surgery consultations are thorough so that all professionals involved have a clear idea of what needs operating and fixing.
Typically, before surgery, the patient will need to fast for a few hours up to a few days. This involves not eating any food. The length of times depends on the type of surgery that is taking place. In addition, the patient should also pack some toiletries, comfortable clothes, and any other personal items to make them feel more at ease before and after the surgery.
On the day that the surgery is taking place, it is important to pack some essentials. These include:
- A form of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport
- Any insurance cards
- The part of the payment that the patient is responsible for (pre-determined)
- Any medical things such as a hearing aid, dental aid, and glasses
- Contact details of a loved one
During the preoperative stage at the surgical clinic, the patient will be asked more questions. These questions will come from the surgeon, the nurse, and the anesthesiologist to ensure that everyone is prepared for the surgery.
During the actual surgery, the patient will be under anesthetic so won’t be conscious for the procedure. Rest assured, the surgeons are well-qualified and know what they’re doing in that room.
Next comes the post-operative stage. This varies in time depending on the type and amount of anesthetic the patient had. Most of the time, one hour is sufficient for the nurses to run all their tests. During this time, the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels will be monitored closely to make sure there were no adverse effects.
There are some common side effects that happen within the post-operative time frame. They aren’t much to worry about. Some include:
- Blurry vision
- Headaches
- Swelling around the scar tissue
- Dry mouth
- Chills
- Nausea
Most of these can be easily controlled with medication and there is significant monitoring throughout the operative stages.
Finally comes the discharge time. This is when the patient gets to go home. A responsible adult must drive them home. There will be clear discharge instructions and what to do in the recovery days at home.
If you would like to request a consultation with one of the orthopedic specialists at the Orthopedic & Sports Institute (OSI), please call (920) 560-1000 or request an appointment online. OSI is Northeast Wisconsin’s exclusive provider of Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery for Hips & Knees.
OSI has convenient locations to serve you. In addition to the flagship facility in Appleton, you will find outreach clinics in New London, Ripon, Shawano, Waupaca, and the newest location serving the Green Bay area, inside the NOVO Health Clinic in De Pere.
The Appleton location also has a walk-in clinic that provides care for new orthopedic injuries.
OSI is a proud member of NOVO Health.