Discharge Instructions

• Surgical Site Care
• Pain Management
• Protection Against Infection
• When Can You Begin Driving
• Follow Up Appointments

Medication prescription from your doctor

Just before leaving, your doctor will give you a pain medication prescription for you to get filled at your own pharmacy. If any of your personal medications are with the nurses or stored at the Hospital, make sure you get them back at this time.

Surgical site care

Infections rarely happen after surgery, but you must remain alert to the possibility:

1. Check the surgical site daily for signs of wound infection. Symptoms are:


• Increased redness
• Increase in swelling
• Increase in pain
• Any drainage
• Oral temperature greater than 101.5 F

If any of the above symptoms occur, please notify your surgeon immediately.


2. If your sutures or staples have been removed, you may shower. Make sure you dry the surgical site gently, but completely. Don’t peel sterile-strips from incision. They will fall off by themselves within 3 to 6 days.


3. If you are discharged with sutures or staples in place, you may not shower unless otherwise advised by your surgeon. Please keep surgical incision dry at all times. DO NOT wear tight fitted clothes over incision. To avoid friction to surgical area, you may tape a dry sterile gauze pad over incision.

Pain Management

1. Continue to apply ice packs to operation area for 20-minute intervals a few times a day. Especially after activity, cold therapy will continue to reduce post-operative swelling and provide you with greater comfort.


2. Take your pain medication as prescribed by your doctor. Remember to take it before the pain becomes too severe. It will help reduce the pain sooner.


3. In the event that the pain medication does not work, or you are experiencing unpleasant side effects, do not hesitate to call your orthopedic surgeon.


4. If you are taking medication, please AVOID alcoholic beverages.

Remember to continue all of the precautions for Total Knee Replacement. Your surgeon will tell you when and if you can move beyond these limitations.

1. DO NOT cross your legs or ankles when standing.
2. Avoid sitting in low, soft chairs such as sofas, and car seats. You should sit on a chair using two firm pillows to raise the height of the seat.
3. Make sure your bed level is high, so that you maintain proper leg positioning when sitting on the side, or getting in or out.

Long-range protection against infection: Antibiotic Prophylaxis

Although it is very rare, the bloodstream carrying infection from another part of the body can infect an artificial joint. Therefore, it is important that your medical doctor treat every bacterial infection (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, abscesses, etc.) promptly. Routine colds and flu, as well as cuts and bruises, do not need to be treated with antibiotics.

To prevent infection at any time in the future, you should take Amoxycillin*.

2 grams one hour before having any of the following procedures:

• Skin Biopsy
• Podiatry procedures which involve cutting into the skin
• Cystoscopy
• Colonoscopy/Endoscopy
• Dermatologic procedures which involve cutting into the skin

To prevent infection for two years after surgery, you should take Amoxycillin*, 2 grams one hour before having any of these following procedures:

• Routine dental cleaning or any dental procedures, including root canals

*Note:If you are unable to take Amoxycillin, use Clindamycin: 600 milligrams one hour before the procedure. Amoxycillin is a form of Penicillin, so if you are allergic to Penicillin, you should take Clindamycin instead.

You do not need to take antibiotics for the following procedures:

• Pedicures/Manicures
• Gynecologic exams
• Cataract Surgery
• Injections or Blood work

It is important that you tell your doctor and dentist that you have an artificial joint, so that they may remind you to take antibiotics, and to prescribe them, as appropriate. In addition, they may wish to consult with your Orthopedic Surgeon or Rheumatologist.

If you have any questions about germs or infections, or any type of procedure, you should call your Orthopedic Surgeon or Rheumatologist.

Your rehabilitation program at home

This program will be an extremely important part of your continuing recovery. Please refer to the Home Recovery Section. If you have questions, ask your physical therapist for answers before you leave.

When to begin driving your car

Most patients are able to resume driving by about four weeks after surgery. It depends upon your leg positioning, strength and coordination. First, check with your surgeon.

Follow-up appointments with your orthopedic surgeon

Regardless of how well you feel after you have been home for a while, follow-up appointments with your surgeon are essential. Call his office to arrange mutually convenient dates and times.

Additional specific discharge instructions

Your surgeon may have additional instructions for you to follow upon discharge. You can record them here as a reminder. This is also a good place to make notes about questions you may have related to your discharges.

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