POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS – ANKLE ARTHROSCOPY
October 1, 2018
WEIGHT BEARING/MOVEMENT
Unless told otherwise by Dr. Burleson, you should be non-weight bearing on the operative extremity until your follow-up visit. You have been placed in a post-operative splint. Please keep this splint on at all times. Utilize crutches to mobilize.
ICE
You can utilize ice packs over the splint – ensuring that the splint does not get wet. Ice will help decrease swelling.
In addition to icing your ankle, elevate your ankle so that your toes are above your nose. This elevates your ankle above your heart and will help reduce swelling.
MEDICATIONS
If you were given a nerve block for anesthesia, it will wear off over 18-24 hours. During this time you will have little to no feeling in the body part where you had surgery (i.e. leg). To control your pain during this transition while the nerve block is wearing off, you are to eat first and then begin taking the pain medication (e.g. Vicodin, Percocet, etc) immediately when you get home from surgery. This will prevent you from having severe pain. Take the pain medication every 4 hours until you go to bed.
You have been given an antibiotic medication – please take this as prescribed until completion of the medication.
Please take 325mg of Aspirin daily for the first two weeks after surgery.
A sleeping medication (e.g. Ambien) is also provided to help you sleep at night. Take one tablet 30 minutes before you plan to sleep.
DRESSING/BANDAGES
Keep your surgical dressing clean and dry. Do not remove your dressing until your first post-operative visit. You may take a shower with a plastic bag over your leg to keep the dressing clean and dry.
Do not take a bath or submerge your knee in water until your incisions are checked at your first post-operative visit.
TEMPERATURE
It is normal to have an elevated temperature during the first 2-3 days post-operatively. Please call our office if your temperature is above 101oF, if there is increased redness around the incision sites, or if there is increased drainage from the incision sites.
APPOINTMENT
Please call the office prior to, or immediately following, your surgery in order to schedule a post-operative appointment. This should be scheduled 7-10 days after surgery. At that visit your stitches will be removed and you will be given a prescription for physical therapy.