Q: When should I change my dressing?

A: Following surgery, keeping your dressing clean and dry is important to decreasing complications. In most cases your first dressing change will be at your first follow up appointment, which is usually 10-14 days following your procedure. If your cast or splint gets wet, or you have any concerns, please contact Laura Samblero at 216-844-1178.

Q: Can I bathe with my cast or splint on?

A: Yes. Maintain your personal hygiene while trying your best to keep your dressing dry. This can be done with the creative use of plastic bags and tape, or consider putting a platform in the bath tub that will allow you to keep your leg out of the water. If you will need a shower chair, please let us know so that we can order this before your surgery.

If you are interested in purchasing a cast sleeve that will protect your dressing in the shower, please contact Simon or Barry at Medcare Products. Read more about these convenient products http://www.medcareproducts.com/castcovers/

Q: I just had surgery. When can I start eating again?

A: Medications used during surgery can commonly cause nausea and vomiting. You should start your intake again with clear fluids and light, low fat foods such as Jello and broths. As your tolerance allows, you can advance your diet back to normal.

Q: What are the signs of infection or other complications?

A: The presentation of complications may be different from person to person and what other coexisting medical conditions one has. Please contact the medical team if you have any fevers, uncontrollable pain, or any new numbness, new rashes or other concerns following surgery.

Q: Why was I given Lovenox or Coumadin to take following surgery.

A: A rare complication of having extremity surgery is the development of a blood clot. This is caused by the stress of surgery on the blood vessels in the affected extremity. This stress can affect the flow of blood and when that flow becomes stagnant, the risk of developing a blood clot increases. Lovenox and Coumadin both help to decrease the body’s ability to clot blood and is an important part of a healthy recovery if prescribed by your surgeon. This condition can affect anyone, but certain conditions can increase one’s risk of developing a clot, so be sure to inform the surgical team of all pre-existing health conditions.

Q: I was given a brace in clinic. When am I supposed to wear it?

A: A brace is given to support a damaged body joint. These joints are responsible for supporting your body weight, so always wear it when walking around, unless specifically told to wear it at night, you may remove it during sleep.

Q: I just got some new orthotics. Why does my foot hurt?

A: You were given this orthotic to support the natural arch that should be in your foot that has been lost over time or due to being born with flat feet. You should gradually break them in. Wear them in 30 min increments throughout the day, gradually increasing to full time use. Remember to do your Achilles stretches while breaking in to your orthotic. You should do your Achilles stretches 3 times a day, most importantly before taking your first step out of bed.

Q: I was told not to bear weight on my splint or cast, but it feels fine. Can I walk on it?

A: No. Adhering to weight bearing restrictions is very important to a proper recovery. Surgical correction is meant to make a joint or limb more stable, so you may feel much better than before your surgery. Placing premature stress on your surgical site increases the risk of a surgical failure. Don’t change your weight bearing restrictions without speaking to the orthopaedic team.