Preoperative expectations


We will discuss location of surgery: Kuakini, Queens (downtown/west), or Honolulu Spine Center

You will receive preoperative medications that you should bring with you on the day of surgery

We will give you prescriptions for braces/cooling sleeves/crutches

 

Operative day 

 


Its normal to be nervous; and you will have a great team working with you today.  You will meet the anesthesiologist, and operating room nurses.  I do work with orthopedic residents, and you may meet them too.

After surgery, I won’t have a chance to talk with you, as you won’t remember much with the general anesthetic medications; but I will speak with your family.  When you come back for your postoperative appointment, I will go through everything I did with you. 

 

After Surgery TIPS

 


With any surgery, the first three days hurts the most. Give my office a call if the pain medicines don’t work for pain control

For any shoulder surgery, I would recommend sleeping upright in a recliner/sofa/bed with extra pillows for the first week.

Place a cooling/ice bag over the surgical site for swelling and pain control

 

Dressing/SPLINT care

 


First step is to keep all dressings/splints clean and dry. Please give our office a call if they get wet.  A wet dressing/splint will lead to an infection

If you have a splint, do not remove it.  I will remove it at your wound check visit

Dressings can be removed on the third day after surgery. Expect some oozing of bloody fluid after any surgery.  Please leave the white strips (steristrips) in place as this holds your wound together.