Activity:
- Ice for 15-20 minutes several times daily.
- No hip precautions.
- You can place full weight on your hip unless otherwise instructed.
- Initially a walker is helpful for ambulation.
Wound Care:
- Wash your hands prior to any wound care.
- Patient may take a shower but do not sit in water.
- Remove the aquacel bandage after 7 days.
- Sutures are removed around 2 weeks after surgery.
- Zipline will be removed at your follow up appointment.
Medication:
- Review your discharge paper work regarding your medication regimen.
- Take your pain medicine as prescribed.
- Be aware that pain medication can cause constipation so take measures to prevent this from occurring.
Exercise:
- Walk around your house every hour to improve mobility and decrease stiffness.
- Do your exercises several times daily.
- Work on ankle motion and heel slides.
- Work on Quad sets and Gluteal squeezes.
- Ice after exercises.
- You should continue your exercises for 6-8 weeks after surgery.
- You may have some pain after or during exercise, but this should resolve and/or improve.
When to call your Surgeon:
- Temperature above 101 degrees for at least 12 hours that does not improve with Tylenol.
- Severe swelling that does not improve with ice and elevation.
- Increasing redness around incision.
- Drainage from the wound that does not decrease or stop or becomes yellow/green or creamy.
- Signs of blood clot-redness, swelling and calf pain.