The operation
Further information
ÜBERSICHT
The path of an operation
An operation is an exceptional situation for every patient! Due to this stressful situation, I do not make the indication for surgery lightly. The procedures of an operation are now standardized to such an extent that I can guarantee you a high degree of safety.
Of course, every operation is associated with a small residual risk of complications, which cannot be completely ruled out. Arthroscopic procedures in particular (keyhole technique), in which I specialize, massively reduce the risk of complications due to the small wound area.
Before the operation
Once I have determined the indication for an operation, I will go through a specific operation information sheet with you, which you will then sign and take home with you. I will also set a surgery date with you and book a surgery slot in a hospital.
Depending on your age and medical history, a blood test, a lung X-ray, an ECG and an internal surgical clearance may need to be carried out beforehand. Shortly before the operation, you will have a consultation with an anesthetist, who will assess all the findings.
The anesthetist will then explain the options for eliminating pain during the operation. Knee or hip operations are very often performed with a cross-stitch, as this ensures good pain relief immediately after the operation. You can stay awake during the cross-stitch or fall asleep with a combination of sleeping pills so that you are not aware of the operation. If you want to sleep during the operation, anesthesia is also a good method of anesthesia. Here you can avoid the feeling of numb legs, which some patients are unaccustomed to with cross-stitches. Operations on the shoulder can only be performed with anesthesia, as there is no equivalent of a cross-stitch in this area. Nevertheless, a so-called nerve block can be performed to improve postoperative pain therapy and to minimize the amount of anaesthetic required during the operation.
On the day of admission, you will be admitted to the ward by a colleague and the nurses. I myself will greet you on the ward shortly before the operation. I will also mark the side on which the operation will be performed with a skin pen.
The operation
In the operating area, a surgical assistant will help you from the patient’s bed onto the operating table. In the preparation room, the anesthetist will prepare the analgesia discussed in advance. If you have opted for a cross-stitch, the anesthetist can still put you to sleep if you do not want to be aware of anything. Otherwise, you have the option of staying awake and possibly following the operation (only possible for knee arthroscopy) on the operating monitor.
After the operation, a bandage is applied, which in most cases has a compressive effect. This reduces the risk of swelling and bruising.
Immediately after the operation, you will be taken to the recovery room, where specially trained nurses will look after you in the immediate post-operative phase. Depending on the analgesia administered and the extent of the operation, you will remain here for a few hours until the anesthetic medication has been completely absorbed by your body and you are sufficiently awake. You will then be transferred back to the normal ward.
After an operation
A pain therapy scheme prescribed by me or the anesthesiologist should make the post-operative phase easier for you. If you are still in pain, please do not hesitate to let the nurses know.
Please refer to the table below for the expected duration of your inpatient stay. In the appendix you will also find my individual post-treatment sheet in PDF format for download.
Pain therapy and thrombosis prophylaxis
Antithrombotic therapy must be continued subcutaneously with Inhixa 4000IE 1xtgl for thrombosis prophylaxis until full weight-bearing or free movement without crutches.
Plaster care and suture removal
Sutures should be removed in my surgery between the 12th and 14th postoperative day. You will find the appointment in the discharge letter.
The wounds must be covered with a plaster for two days after the stitches have been removed. Showering is possible with a special shower plaster. However, this should be changed afterwards if possible
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy treatment already takes place during the inpatient stay, but must be continued immediately afterwards in order to regain full freedom of movement as soon as possible.
Please make an appointment with a physiotherapist before the operation to avoid long waiting times. I am happy to recommend therapists with whom I work regularly.
Weight bearing and mobilization
How mobilization is carried out depends on the individuality of the surgical procedure. After the operation, you will receive a post-treatment plan from me, which should help you as a guide for the coming weeks of physiotherapy.
How long do I have to stay in hospital after my operation?
- Knee arthroscopy (meniscus suture, partial meniscus resection): 1 day
- Cruciate ligament reconstruction: 2 days
- Patella instabilities: 1-2 days
- Shoulder arthroscopy (AC joint stabilization, shoulder dislocations, rotator cuff reconstructions, calcific shoulder, ...): 1-2 days
- Total hip replacement: 7-10 days
- Total knee arthroplasty: 7-10 days
- Shoulder prosthesis: 6 days
- Hallux valgus, hallux rigidus: 1 day
- Capral tunnel splits, snapping finger, ...: day clinic
- Fracture treatment: individual
