Day of Surgery
A Same Day Surgery nurse will call you a few days before your surgery date. The nurse will provide detailed instructions about what time to be at the hospital, where to park, when your child can last eat or drink, and collect a health history from you. If they have not reached you by your pre-op consultation with your orthopedic surgeon, we will either have that information for you or connect you with them during that visit
Patients are admitted for a 23-hour admit, so plan on spending the night after surgery. Pack comfortable, loose clothing for your child. T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants or shorts are preferred. Be sure to bring any devices that your child uses for functional ambulation or walking assistance and comfort items. One parent is allowed to spend the night with the child. There are no private rooms so a roommate is likely, although the unit makes every effort to fill each room with one patient before doubling up.
When you arrive at the hospital, you will check in at the 2nd floor lobby and the receptionist will direct you to the same-day surgery center on the 6th floor. Your orthopedic surgeon, your anesthesia team and the nursing team will meet with you before your surgery.
The surgery usually lasts about an hour. While your child is in surgery, you will be given a pager so that you can leave the surgery waiting area. Your orthopedic surgeon will call you on the phone in the waiting area assigned to you when surgery is over and then you will be called into the recovery area to be with your child. After recovery you will be escorted to the 10th floor for your overnight observation.
Post–Op Day 1
After surgery, your child will have bandages on the areas where the surgical incisions were made. These bandages will remain on for 10 days. You may see some bloody drainage on the bandage and bruising around the surgical site, which is normal. The casts are not waterproof so both the casts and dressings need to be kept clean and dry. If you have a cast, the nursing staff will provide you with a cast shoe to be worn when ambulating to protect the bottom of the cast. Do not let your child walk without the cast shoes. You should start using the knee immobilizers upon your return home, unless your orthopedic surgeon has placed them in surgery or Dr. Park has given you other instructions.
