Precautions Following Surgery

Pre-hospital

If you have any X-rays, then please bring them along with you.
No food, drink or smoking for 6 hours prior to surgery (you may have sips of water or clear fluids up to 2 hours prior to surgery).
Please ensure that you do not have any cuts, abrasions or skin problems on the leg to be operated on. if you do, please let us know ASAP.
It is essential that foot and ankle are washed with soap and water 6 hours before surgery.

Usual stay is day case procedure, but on occasions it will be one-night stay in your chosen hospital.
Half plaster backslab dressing first two weeks- many a times plaster is not essential.
Physiotherapy to mobilise non-weightbearing or heel weight bearing on crutches.
Ensure you have a postoperative appointment on discharge.

SWELLING - This is to be expected. Minimise this by keeping your foot ELEVATED for a couple of days. After this time, it is advisable to start walking about along with the post-operative slipper.
PAIN - You will receive a prescription for pain medication on discharge. Pain will be minimised by keeping your foot elevated and resting.
BLEEDING - This may occur. You may notice some oozing through the bandages. If this continues in large amounts, please contact the ward and attend for examination. Keeping your foot elevated will minimise the bleeding.

REST - Take it easy for the first two to three days with your foot ELEVATED in between.
MOBILISE as instructed at the time of discharge - Toilet and shower only. Do not put weight on the operated leg if non weightbearing or else you are allowed to walk heel weight bearing with Darco post-operative shoe.
ICE - An iced filled plastic bag placed over the foot or resting the foot on the bag helps ease pain and swelling.
PAIN MEDICATION - Take oral analgesia as prescribed when necessary.
DO NOT WET DRESSING
DO NOT REMOVE DRESSING

Dressing removed, stitches taken out and plaster applied if required.
Physiotherapy referral will be made. You may mobilise partial to full weight-bearing. Those patients who require a cast will have the ½ plaster back-slab changed to a full cast which will be worn for 4 weeks (you may still partial weight-bear in this cast).
Continue to mobilise with crutches.
From 14 days you may shower and allow the foot to become wet but do not allow it to become soaked (i.e. do not sit with it in the bath). “Dab” dry the skin rather than rub with a towel. you may also start to massage the scar with bio oil.

Final review. It may be necessary to continue to follow up a bit longer than expected.

It can take up to 6-12 months to return back to normal.

IN CASE OF ANY EMERGENCY- PLEASE CONTACT MR RAJIV LIMAYE DIRECT ON 07939 071024