Before your procedure:
The following are some important pre-op considerations:
- You are not to eat after midnight before your surgery.
- You should have your prescriptions filled and obtain your crutches or walker before surgery (if prescribed by your doctor).
- If you tend to have swelling in your feet, make sure to decrease your salt and liquid consumption, take diuretics, and keep your foot elevated for several hours before surgery.
- If you are taking aspirin for a problem with your heart, you should stop the aspirin three weeks prior to the surgery to prevent bleeding problems. Discuss this with your medical doctor.
- If you are taking coumadin in order to thin your blood, you should discuss with your medical doctor the need to stop it a day or two before surgery, and the amount to take when you resume it the day after surgery.
- If you are taking blood pressure medication, you need to take that the night before surgery or the morning of surgery with a sip of water, but have nothing else to drink.
- If you take insulin before surgery, you are to take half your usual dose in the morning on the day of surgery.
- If you smoke, it is advisable for you to decrease the smoking as much as possible as this will help you go through the post-op period a little more safely.
- Arrange to have someone drive you home following surgery.
- If you are under 18, a legal guardian or parent must sign an authorization for surgery.
After your procedure:
The amount of discomfort and swelling vary greatly from patient to patient. The following post-op guidelines will help you with a number of possible situations:
- While returning home from surgery, sit sideways in the back seat of the car with the surgical foot elevated.
- Remain quiet and off your feet as much as possible for the first three to five days. Place a pillow under the calf of your leg so the surgical foot is elevated. It is important to walk as little as possible during this time.
- Place an ice bag (frozen peas work the best) over the surgical area 15 minutes out of every hour. This should be continued for several weeks following surgery. Ice will significantly decrease inflammation and post-op pain.
- Remove the dressings after three days and apply a Band-Aid, changing twice daily.
- Make sure the shoe you are wearing does NOT rub up against the incision area and is not a “worn out” shoe as this will prolong your recovery.
- DO NOT apply any ointments/gels/etc to the incision area. Keep it dry. Don’t apply hot water bags or electric heating pads on your foot as this will increase your pain.
- Keep the operative area completely dry. If the bandage accidentally gets wet, dry immediately with an absorbent towel and call your doctor.
- Your bandages may become somewhat bloody. Should this occur, do not become alarmed. However, if there is active and persistent bleeding, call your doctor.
- If it seems that your anti-inflammatory medication is not decreasing your pain, contact your doctor.
- Nausea and light-headedness sometimes occur due to the medication(s). If this happens, stop taking the pain pills and call your doctor. Make sure to eat prior to taking pain medication.
- Follow a light diet and abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages while taking medications. Do not eat salty foods or drink lots of fluid, as this will increase your swelling.
- If temperature goes over 101° F, call your doctor's office immediately. If after hours, call your medical emergency number or go to a hospital.
- Should you incur any other problems not discussed in these instructions, please call your doctor immediately.
Consent form
Please download, print, and fill out the procedure consent form linked below (pdf). You will need to bring this completed form to your doctor on the day of your procedure.