Preparing for surgery
The weeks before, the day of, and the first days at home.
Do I need someone to drive me home after surgery?
Yes, for any of the procedures Dr. Plancher performs, from arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, a shoulder procedure done through small incisions using a camera and small instruments, to knee replacement.
Anesthesia means you will not be cleared to drive yourself home, so arranging a ride and someone to stay with you that first night should happen before your surgery date, not the morning of. If your procedure involves the knee or shoulder, it also helps to arrange a few days away from work and to think through stairs and daily tasks ahead of time, since movement will be limited at first.
Do I need to stop any medications before surgery?
Some, but not all, and your surgical team will tell you exactly which ones.
Blood thinners, certain anti-inflammatory medications, and some supplements are commonly paused before orthopedic procedures, including the knee, shoulder, hand and wrist, and elbow surgery performed at Plancher Orthopedics. Bring a full list of your current medications, your insurance card, and identification to your pre-operative visit, and confirm your specific instructions there rather than guessing from a general list.
What happens on the day of surgery?
It follows a set sequence.
After check-in, you will meet with the anesthesia team and the nursing staff who prepare you for the procedure. Dr. Kevin Plancher trained in shoulder and knee reconstruction and sports medicine at The Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado, and in hand and microvascular surgery at The Indiana Hand Center in Indianapolis, and he or a member of his surgical team speaks with you beforehand to confirm the procedure and answer any last questions. In the operating room, the procedure itself, whether a partial knee replacement, an arthroscopic Bankart repair, or an endoscopic elbow release, a similar camera-guided procedure used on the elbow, generally takes one to a few hours depending on what is being done. You will then spend time in a recovery area before going home or, for some shoulder and knee replacements, to a hospital room for observation.
Is it normal to have pain and swelling afterward?
Yes, within limits. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, swelling and stiffness are common in the weeks following joint replacement surgery, and the same holds true for shoulder and hand procedures while tissue heals.
What counts as normal differs by area: a knee replacement or partial knee replacement often brings more visible swelling than a hand or wrist procedure, and a shoulder replacement or rotator cuff repair usually means discomfort is worse in certain arm positions. Your surgical team will tell you what is expected for your specific procedure and how to manage it with ice, elevation, and prescribed medication.
What symptoms mean I should call right away?
A short list of signs always warrants a same-day call, not a wait-and-see approach.
Call if you develop a fever, increasing redness or warmth around the incision, drainage that is heavy or foul-smelling, numbness or an inability to move your fingers or toes, calf pain or swelling, chest pain, or shortness of breath. These can signal infection, a blood clot, or a nerve or circulation problem, and they are evaluated the same day, not at your next scheduled visit.
Who do I contact with questions before or after my surgery?
Plancher Orthopedics, the practice in New York where Dr. Plancher sees patients.
The office can answer scheduling, insurance, and logistics questions before surgery, and your surgical team is the right contact for anything medical once you are home. Plancher Orthopedics is accepting new patients for evaluation ahead of a planned procedure.
Ready to talk about your hand, knee, shoulder, elbow and wrist?
Call the office or request an appointment. Accepting new patients.