Discharge from the Hospital

A care coordinator or case manager will visit you after surgery to assist with discharge planning.

Discharge Requirements

  • Your doctor will tell you when you return home. Please be patient while your care team ensures everything is in place. Discharges usually occur between noon and 5 p.m.
  • You will be notified when it is safe for you to go home by your physical therapy team. Sometimes this is done after only one session, but you may need an afternoon therapy session the day of discharge.
  • You need medical clearance.
  • You will need to acquire any equipment you do not currently have such as a walker, shower chair, or commode.
  • Your care coordinator or case manager may check your prescription coverage.
  • Your nurse will review your discharge instructions.

It is important to understand that you, your nurse, therapist, and doctor are all on one team. Open communication is essential to achieving the best surgery outcome. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns throughout your hospital stay. 

Discharge Instructions for Joint Replacement

Follow up with your surgeon two to four weeks after discharge.

Activity

  • Joints should be allowed to bear weight as tolerated.
  • While walking, use your walker or crutches according to your instructions.
  • To reduce stiffness, get up every hour and move around.

Pain Management

  • To decrease swelling, ice your joint as instructed and elevate your leg on pillows when not walking, especially after therapy. Swelling may continue for several weeks and even months. If you had a knee replacement, do not place the pillow behind your knee.
  • Continue to take pain medicines as needed to be comfortable. You can also use Tylenol® if that works for you. Remember not to exceed more than 4,000 mg per day if taking anything with Tylenol® in it, including prescription pain medications.
  • Listen to your body and avoid overdoing yourself. Pushing through pain with activity can increase inflammation and scar tissue development.

Wound Care

  • Once your dressing is removed, your wound should be left uncovered unless otherwise directed by your surgeon.
  • Please do not put any ointments, lotions, or other skin products on your incision until advised to do so by your surgeon.
  • Avoid sun exposure to the wound area for the first month. Apply sunscreen to the scar for the next year when you are sunbathing or outside with the area exposed. The incision area is sensitive and sunburns easily.

Showering

  • You may shower the day after your surgery, if cleared by your surgeon.
  • Do not scrub the wound area.
  • Gently pat dry with a clean towel.
  • Do not soak the wound area in standing water such as a bathtub, jacuzzi, or swimming pool until the wound is healed, or as directed by your surgeon.

Bowel Management

  • Your normal routine will be off schedule following surgery.
  • Do not let more than two or three days pass by without moving your bowels.
  • Laxatives, stool softeners, or an enema at home can prevent constipation.
  • Drink plenty of fluid and eat high fiber foods to promote normal bowel activity.

Dental Guidelines

Your surgeon may have discussed the need for preventative antibiotics before dental procedures such as cleanings, cavity fillings, or root canals. Some patients are asked to do this for one year following a joint replacement and some patients are on lifetime prevention, depending on certain risk factors. Dentists also recommend this precaution. The medication prescribed is Amoxicillin 500 mg tablets, four tablets taken one hour before the dental procedure. You will be prescribed Clindamycin 300 mg tablets, two tablets taken one hour before the procedure if you are allergic to penicillin. This prevents infections. This guideline was developed by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Dental Association (ADA).

Your orthopedic surgeon can prescribe this at your first follow-up appointment. If you have questions, please consult one of your healthcare professionals. Daily brushing and flossing with routine professional dental cleanings are recommended for life. Because some dental issues may lead to infections, please reschedule or postpone any routine visits the week before, or 3 months after surgery. Please advise your orthopedic surgeon if you are having dental work done that cannot be rescheduled, as it may postpone your surgery.