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Instructions for
Total Knee Replacement Surgery
We will make the arrangements and call you~
 | We will call your insurance carrier and make the arrangements for surgery. |
| We will call you to let you know when and where your surgery will be
performed. |
| Please keep a pencil and paper by the phone to write down the information
when we call you. |
| The exact time of your surgery will not be known until the evening before
your surgery. |
Before surgery~
| A blood transfusion is usually required. Before surgery, you will need to
donate 2 units of blood that is either your own, a family member's, or a
close friend's. |
| You need a history and physical by your family physician within 7 days
prior to the day of surgery. If necessary, Doctor Neff or Doctor Boulden
will perform a history and physical. |
| If you are taking medications, you should call your family doctor to find
out if it is okay to continue taking that medication. |
| Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery. This
includes sips of water, coffee, or anything else. |
| Make sure you have someone to drive you home the day of surgery. |
| If you are 18 or under and are not married, you must be accompanied by a
parent or guardian. |
| Do not wear jewelry or take other valuable items with you. |
| Do not wear make-up or nail polish. |
Day of surgery~
| The average stay in the hospital is 3 to 7 days, depending on your general
overall health and the help you will have at home. |
| Total knee replacement surgery is done either under a general anesthetic
(puts you to sleep), or a spinal anesthetic (numb from the waist down). |
| The surgery usually takes 1 to 2 hours. |
| Risks include blood clot, anesthesia complications, and infection. |
| The scar on your knee will be approximately 10 inches long. |
| You will be given a prescription for pain medication to take home with
you. |
After surgery~
| Following surgery, you will need to use a walker for 3 to 4 weeks and then
use a cane for another 3 to 4 weeks. |
| Your staples will either be removed while you are still in the hospital or
at your follow-up visit with your doctor. If your staples were not removed
in the hospital, you will need to see us 8 to 10 days following surgery.
Otherwise, you should schedule your follow-up visit one month following
surgery. |
| If you notice any changes such as fever, bleeding, drainage, or unusual
symptoms at all, you should contact our office immediately. |
| After surgery, you will be at risk of infection from total joint surgery.
We will issue you a medic alert card as a reminder that if you should ever
have any sort of infection, such as a urinary tract infection, or if you
should have dental work or surgery, you will need an antibiotic medication.
You will be given a pamphlet which will further discuss this. |
| After surgery, you can walk and do normal activities that you can
tolerate. Many patients complain of swelling in the knee and ankle following
surgery, and it may take 3 months for the swelling to completely
diminish. |
| You may be wearing Ted hose following surgery. These are a support hose
that are worn either below the knee or full length of the leg. We will
discuss this with you again in further detail on the day of surgery. |
Please call our office at 515-222-3151 if you have any questions. Please
do not call the hospital. If you have questions or concerns, we want to hear
from you.
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