Planning for Surgery
After a patient has seen a provider and surgery is recommended, our Surgery Scheduler will meet with the patient to kick off the Surgery planning process. At this initial meeting with our Surgery Scheduler, the patient may be instructed to complete some pre operative testing and evaluations to be done with other providers. All of the documentation for those testing and clearances are due back to our office no later than 2 weeks prior to your surgery date. Failure to comply with this can result in cancellation of your surgery and it may not be possible to reschedule your surgery.
Additionally, it is possible that selecting a surgery date may not be an option based on health issues or use of Nicotine products. See the section below Why can I undergo Orthopedic Surgery.
Why Can’t I Undergo Orthopedic Surgery
Patients must be nicotine free for 2 weeks before we will can schedule you. You will be required to remain Nicotine free for until your surgery date which may be 4-6 weeks. Lastly you will be required to remain Nicotine free until you post op period has ended and you are cleared from our care.
Obesity, Diet and Physical Condition
Whether or not it is safe to perform orthopedic surgery on patients who are obese or morbidly obese depends on the patient’s overall health, but in many cases, the risk is simply too great. Patients who are severely overweight have a significantly increased risk for complications like infections, blood clots and heart attack.
Your orthopedic surgeon may strongly recommend losing weight prior to your surgery, or they may say they simply can’t do your surgery at all given your condition.
Another condition closely linked to obesity – sleep apnea – also makes surgery more dangerous. Patients with sleep apnea have an elevated risk for heart attack or cardiac issues during surgery. If you suffer from sleep apnea or suspect you do it is important you discuss this with your physician prior to surgery.
Diet and nutrition also play a role in your health going into surgery, as well as the speediness and effectiveness of your recovery. You may want to discuss nutrition with our naturopathic specialist in advance of your surgery. Our naturopath also helps patients lose weight and make the lifestyle changes necessary to qualify for surgery.
Your strength and endurance will impact your rate of recovery as well. Being injured or suffering a condition like osteoarthritis is a slippery slope. You may no longer be able to maintain the same level of activity you could prior to your injury or joint condition, so you may need to discuss your options for improving your physical condition with a physical therapy specialist prior to undergoing surgery.
If you’re a Desert Orthopedic Specialists patient, you can rest assured that we will do everything we can to help you get into the shape necessary to safely undergo orthopedic surgery. Providing nutritional guidance, weight loss assistance and strengthening plans is one of our specialties.
Many patients are in similar situations. Finding out you’re not healthy enough for surgery is more common than you may think. We’ve developed programs specifically tailored to help people facing these struggles.
Smoking
Studies have shown that smokers are more likely to suffer surgical complications, including heart attack, stroke, pneumonia and infections, than non-smokers. Continuing to smoke after an injury or surgery may even slow the healing process, which is vital for joint replacement surgeries. If you are a smoker who needs orthopedic surgery, it is highly recommended that you quit smoking prior to your procedure.
Diabetes
If you are Diabetic an A1C lab result will be need to show levels of xxx or lower for us to schedule you.
Limited Mobility and Memory Impairments
Patients with conditions like Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders that put them at risk for falls will have a significantly elevated risk for postoperative falls.
Patients who suffer from memory impairments can suffer confusion after surgery, or a potential worsening of symptoms after anesthesia. If you or a loved one are suffering from memory impairment issues, it is of vital importance you discuss those conditions with your specialists, primary care physician and surgeon prior to your procedure. Understanding the risks and making informed decisions is an important part of your care plan at Desert Orthopedic Specialists.
Quick Tips for Total Joint Replacement Surgery Preparation
- Think ahead and make plans beforehand – schedule time off work, arrange for help with household chores, invite your children or a friend to come stay with you for assistance, etc.
- Ask any and all questions you have ahead of the operation day so you feel comfortable going into surgery.
- Gather all your insurance information, emergency contact information and anything else you may need before you leave for the hospital.
- Prepare your home and recovery area before you leave for the hospital so it’s optimized for your recovery. Keep in mind that your mobility will be limited for a while.
- Talk to your doctor and physical therapist about the exercises you’ll need to do during recovery so you can get to know them and practice performing them properly before your post-operative recovery begins.
Cleaning the Surgical Site
Although not always at the tops of people’s minds when they are about to undergo surgery, it is important to ensure the skin of the surgical site is as healthy as possible. This process is required only for Partial and Total Joint Replacement patients.
4 days prior to your surgery AND the morning of your surgery, shower with HIBICLENS ANTIMICROBIAL NAME BRAND SOAP.
Where do I find this product?
You may buy Hibiclens Soap over the counter at any pharmacy. If you are unable to find the Hibiclens Brand, please ask your pharmacist to recommend to you an equivalent alternative.
How do I use Hibiclens?
Carefully clean from the shoulders down, including extremities. DO NOT USE Hibiclens directly on the hair, face, or delicate/personal areas of the body.
What does this do?
Using this soap will help to remove bacteria on the skin surfaces which will help to reduce your risk for post-operative infections. Hibiclens will somewhat dry out your skin after use but you should refrain for using any lotions, powders or oils prior to your surgery.
We are dedicated to helping patients realize the potential the human body has to heal itself if given the proper nurturing, nutrition and modern orthopedic care.