You're being shown this video because you are starting down the pathway towards a knee replacement. My name is Brittany Betcher, s Nurse Surgical Coordinator for Orthopedics.
I'll walk through the steps in the pre surgery, surgery, and post surgery process.
You can not go through this journey alone. You must have a support system and a plan for once you leave the hosipital
This includes transportation to and from the hospital and follow up appointmetns.
Medical Pre Surgery Appointments
You will have a preop appointment with a medical doctor, either here at the VA, in the medicine clinic, or with your primary care provider.
This appointment may include blood work, EKG, and Xray
These appointments are for medical clearance to ensure you are physically ready for surgery.
Ortho Pre-surgery Appointments.
At this appointment you will review, plan for surgery, and sign surgical consent.
You will also schedule your after surgery appointments at the front desk prior to leaving the 2F clinic
You will also be issued a medication called neuparison. This is a medication that treats any MERSA that may be colonized. You will apply this twice a day
for five days prior to your surgery in the inside of your nose. The last dose will be given the evening
prior to surgery. Please pick up this medication from pharmacy prior to leaving the hosipital.
and attend all your pre-surgey appointments.
Evening prior to surgery.
Have nothing to eat or drink after midnight. Follow any medication recommendations
that were discussed during your medical pre-surgery appointment.
Follow your skin prep instructions
and these are detailed in your instructions for surgery packet.
Day of surgery
Follow your medication instructions for the morning of surgery.
Check in at the adminissions desk 1S128, which in the Flag Atrium.
If use a CPAP
please bring this machine to the hosipital
Bring closed toe shoes for physical therapy and remember to pack any personal items you may want to have during your stay in the hosipital.
Pack the following occupational therapy equipment: grabber, leg lifter and sock aid to assist in your independance while in the hosipital.
If you were provided a cane or walker prior to surgery, bring these with you, on the day of surgery.
If these items were not issued to you prior to surgery, they will be provided to you by physical therapy.
Be prepared to spend up to three night in the hospital.
You will work physical therapy multiple times daily in preparation to go home.
Be prepared to move, stand, and even walk after surgery
After Surgery
Please call the 2F triage line Monday-Friday or the call center if any concerns present after surgery
If it is a medical emergency please call 911 or seek care in the emergency room
Refer to the instructions for surgery packet for this contact information.
Blood Clots
While clots can delay recovery and cause potential life threatening injuries. To prevent blood clots
we use medications. We also utilize SCDs which is attached your feet at all times when in bed
and we encourage early movement.
Signs and systems are chest pain, difficulty breathing, and pain behind the calf.
Pain Control
Pain control is extremely important after surgery
We utilize many options including different types of medication, ice, and position changes.
Wound Care
Most common type of dressing covering your knee is a water resistant dressing. You may shower right after surgery and this dressing does not need to be covered.
You will keep this dressing on your knee for seven days. Once this dressing is removed
water may run over the incision. After showering you will pat the incision dry and cover with gauze and tape.
Most common way to close the incision is staples.
Another way to close your knee is dissolvable suitures and surgical glue.
Follow up appointments
Outpatient physically therapy. You will start one week after surgery and expect 1-2 physical therapy appointments per week, for 6 weeks.
You will follow up in clinic 2 weeks after surgery
to assess your incision or remove any staples long as there's no concerns.
You will follow up 6 weeks after surgery in orthopedics. You will need to get new x-rays prior to this appointment.
As you continue to watch this video, you will learn more about knee replacement surgery and what to expect.