1. Total Joint Replacement
Your Roadmap to Recovery
Check off each milestone during your stay. You can monitor your progress with your family. Depending on your
individual needs, your plan may vary.
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Attend the Staten Island University Hospital’s Pre
Operative Joint class
718 226 8178
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Your surgeons office will give you an appointment
for PAST (Pre-Admission Surgical Testing) 2-3 weeks
before your surgical date to have your blood work
and testing completed
Make an appointment to see your medical doctor.
Your surgeons office may instruct you to see a
Day of Surgery
Date:_____________
Before Surgery
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Do the last pre surgical wash before you come to the
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specialist for additional testing
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If you have not seen your dentist recently, make an
appointment.
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Complete your pre surgical wash for 2 consecutive
days prior to surgery and the day of surgery.
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Document the days you did the wash on the pre
surgical check list ( given to you in PAST)
Surgical wash # 1 ________
Surgical wash #2 ________
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After Surgery
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You will be in the post anesthesia care unit for
recovery.
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After your recovery period, you will be escorted to a
hospital room. You will be placed on IV fluids, with
bandages covering your incision, and possibly
drainage tubing, and a urinary catheter.
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Your pain may be controlled by patient Controlled
Analgesia (PCA) infusion. Pain medication will be
given to make you comfortable. Let the nurse know
if your pain is not controlled.
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You will receive IV antibiotics
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You will have air filled compression sleeves on your
feet to improve circulation and help prevent blood
clots.
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Your diet will begin with liquids and progress as
tolerated.
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Continue your breathing exercises
Surgical wash #3 ________
(day of surgery)
Day Before Surgery

Call the Ambulatory Care unit at the hospital
between 4:00-7:00 pm to find out what time to be
at SIUH.
** if your surgery is Monday, call on Friday. If the
surgery is Tuesday, and the Monday before is a
holiday, call on Friday **718-226-9260
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Nothing to eat or drink after midnight. Sips of
water with physician approved medication only.
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Do the second pre surgical wash as instructed by
PAST nurse
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Prepare a list of rehab choices provided from the
Pre-Operative joint class
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Items to bring-toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion,
deodorant, battery operated razor. Eyeglasses.
Money for TV $5.75/day and telephone $4.75/day
hospital
Sips of water with physician approved medication
only
Arrive at the hospital at the given time to the AM
Surgery/Endoscopy unit on the second floor.
Family and visitors should wait in the Surgical waiting
area. A patient liaison will keep them informed of the
progress of the surgery. The patient liaison can be
reached by using any in house telephone dialing x
8690 or by dialing 718-226-8690.
You will be escorted to the Pre Op holding area
approximately one hour before your scheduled time
of surgery, where you will meet your surgeon,
anesthesiologist and your nurse.
Please give your nurse your pre operative checklist
which will be placed in your chart.
.
Before your hospital stay

2. Post Operative Day 1
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Your blood work will be drawn at 6am for routine testing
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Your nurse will provide you with personal care, medications and
aid with toileting. The nurse will help you get out of bed to a
chair and into the bathroom
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Your surgical drain may be discontinued today
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You will be seen by a physical therapist. The therapist will help
you get out of bed to a chair and perform exercises, and walk
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You will be visited by your social worker to discuss your post
hospital discharge plan
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You may receive a blood transfusion
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You should continue with your breathing exercises with the
incentive spirometer
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For knee replacements, a machine will be attached to your bed
to help move your knee
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You may use an ice pack on your knee/hip after exercise or
ambulation
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You will be visited by your physician &/or physician assistant
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Your blood will be drawn at 6 am for
routine testing
The physical therapist will continue to
help you with your exercises and walking
program
The social worker will discuss and finalize
your discharge plans
Anticipated Discharge date
Your anticipated discharge date will be discussed with you by
your healthcare team
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Post Operative Day 3
All tubes and drains may be gone today The urinary catheter will
be removed
Post Operative Day 2
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Your blood will be drawn at 6 am for routine testing
The nursing staff will continue to help you get out of
bed an with your daily needs
Your goal is to be on pain medication in pill form today
You will progress with activities of daily living,
exercises and walking with physical therapy or nursing
staff. You may go to the gym today with physical
therapy
If you are going to a rehabilitation facility, a plan is in
place for your post- hospital stay. your social worker
will assist you in arranging transportation to your
rehab facility
If you are going home, a home care nurse will meet
with you to discuss your post hospital discharge plan.
Please make arrangement with your family/caregivers
for discharge transportation. If not already arranged,
Your social worker will arrange for equipment (walker,
and/or commode)
You may use an ice pack on your knee/hip after
exercise or ambulation
You should be in your chair for most of your meals
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___________________________
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If all discharge criteria are met
(mobility, wound healing, medical
concerns), you will be discharged to a
rehab facility or to your home
Contact Us:
For more information or to let us know how we
are doing, feel free to contact us at 718
226-8178
We will try answer the question or find the
answer for you.
Thank you for choosing
Staten Island University Hospital for your Joint
Replacement Surgery