This information is designed to assist you in a speedy recovery from surgery. Please follow these guidelines unless your physician has specifically instructed you otherwise.

POST-OP APPOINTMENT:

Unless an appointment has already been made for you, please call the office on the first working day after your discharge from the hospital to schedule a follow-up visit. This should be scheduled on the calendar for 7 - 10 days after your surgery. Normal office hours are 8:30-5:30 Monday through Friday.

WOUND CARE:

Keep your dressings in place for 72 hours. If they become wet or soiled before that time, you may remove them and apply clean, dry gauze. You may shower after 24 hours post-operatively. Re-wrap ace's snugly, from ankle to thigh, keeping them on as needed for comfort and to control pain. Post-operatively, bruising and discoloration is to be expected. Swelling may occur, but can be controlled with ace wraps and leg elevation. Your sutures may be removed on your first post-operative visit.

ACTIVITY:

Take it easy and keep your legs elevated for 24 hours following surgery. Ambulation is encouraged. Avoid prolonged standing or sitting. You may return to activity as tolerated. Remember that leg elevation is the best method to minimize swelling.

WHEN TO NOTIFY YOUR PHYSICIAN:

If your temperature is greater than 101.0 degrees more than six hours

If you notice increased swelling unrelieved by leg elevation above heart level

If you have increased redness or drainage from your incision, or your incision begins to separate

If you have pain unrelieved by medicine or rest

Please call the office during business hours for any further questions or concerns.