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After Surgery

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Prior to your surgery, our team will work with you to ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared. Your surgeon will provide you with a detailed explanation of the planned surgical procedure, addressing any questions or concerns you may have. Our administrative team will assist you with the necessary paperwork. In some cases, a pre-operative appointment with our anaesthetist may be required to ensure that you are in the best possible condition for your surgery.

Pre-Operative Instructions:

Before your surgery, our team will ensure that you are both physically and mentally prepared. The surgeon will discuss the planned operative procedure in detail with you, and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Our administrative team will guide you through the required paperwork, and in some cases, you may need to have a pre-operative appointment with our anaesthetist to ensure that you are in optimal condition for your procedure.

Medication Review

As part of your pre-operative assessment, your current regular medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements such as fish oil and glucosamine, will be reviewed. The majority of your regular medications can usually be continued, but some may need to be temporarily ceased, such as blood-thinning medicines, including aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, apixaban. Diabetes medications, including tablets and injections, can usually be safely continued until the morning of the surgery. We will advise you when to stop taking these medications before the operation, and when to restart them after the operation.

Smoking

Smoking greatly impairs the blood supply to healing tissues and creates problems with anaesthesia, so if you are a smoker, it is recommended that you quit smoking before your surgery and during the recovery period. We can advise you on options to help you quit smoking during this period and ideally beyond.

Fasting

You should not consume solid food, including drinks containing milk, within six hours before surgery. Clear fluids, such as cordial and water, may be consumed up to three hours before surgery, and then nothing should be taken from then on, including chewing gum. An exception is made for regular oral medications, which can be taken with a small sip of water.

Fitness

Most surgeries require general anaesthesia, which means that you will be put to sleep and breathing will be assisted. Our anaesthetic team will ensure that your heart and lungs are in optimal health for the procedure by performing a cardiovascular assessment, blood tests, and heart tracings before your surgery.

Skin Preparation

You should not shave or wax the skin around the surgical area, as this can irritate the skin or cause superficial infections. Please notify us if you notice any skin lesions or abrasions around the operative area in the days before your surgery. On the day of your surgery, we will prepare the skin with antiseptic, and the surgeon will mark the limb to be operated on.

Illness / Colds

If you have a cold, flu-like symptoms, or urinary-tract infections, please inform us as your surgery may need to be postponed until you have fully recovered from these infections. This is to ensure that your surgery is performed as safely as possible for you.

Please bring all relevant imaging with you to the hospital, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans.Arrival To Hospital

Please arrive at the hospital surgical admissions area at least two hours before your planned surgery or as advised by the hospital admission staff. If you are planned for an overnight admission to the hospital following the operation, please bring your regular medications with you.

After Surgery

After your surgery, the focus shifts to rehabilitation and recovery, which are crucial to your overall outcome. Your surgeon will discuss your recovery plan with you before the surgery, which includes the timeline for post-operative follow-up and additional treatments like physiotherapy. Below are some essential factors to keep in mind during your post-operative recovery.

Post-Operative Instructions

  • After surgery, you will be given oral pain relief medications prescribed by your anaesthetist, which will usually include paracetamol and an opioid medication such as Palexia or Endone. Anti-inflammatory medications such as Celebrex may also be prescribed. If you have had hand and wrist surgery, you may also be prescribed a course of Vitamin C to reduce the risk of neuropathic pain syndrome known as "Complex Regional Pain."
  • Your first post-operative appointment will be approximately two weeks after the surgery, and you can contact your doctor rooms if you need confirmation of this appointment. The first appointment will involve a surgical wound review with a clinic nurse, followed by a check-up with your Surgeon. You should not drive for 24 hours following surgery, and for shoulder and upper limb surgery, driving should be avoided until you can place both hands firmly on the steering wheel and perform an emergency stop.
  • After surgery, you will have dressing applied to the surgical wounds, which will be covered with a second clear, water-resistant layer to enable you to shower. Submerging the surgical wound in baths or swimming pools is not allowed until the wound is completely sealed and water-tight. Following shoulder surgery, a shoulder sling will be fitted in the operating theatre, which may need to be worn for 2-6 weeks. After wrist or hand surgery, Surgeon may arrange for a Hand Therapist to fit you with a custom moulded thermoplastic splint.
  • Following surgery of the shoulder and upper limb, the hospital physiotherapist will guide you on early and simple exercises to safely move the shoulder and upper limb. You should continue these early exercises at home, and ongoing regular physiotherapy is recommended after your first post-operative appointment. Some post-operative discomfort is expected, but if you experience any increased pain or increased ooze or discharge from the surgical wound, you should contact your Surgeon immediately. Swelling and bruising is normal following surgery, and swelling at the shoulder can be reduced with ice packs, and swelling of the elbow, wrist, or hand can be reduced with simple elevation.