Preparing for Surgery

Cleaning the operative area:

Dr. Wilkinson takes infection precautions very seriously. Once you have signed up for surgery, please purchase antibacterial body soap (i.e., Dial AntiBacterial Soap) and use this daily before surgery, including the morning of surgery. You will also continue to use this soap after surgery for bathing for the first few weeks.

If you are having shoulder surgery, please purchase 5% Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) gel. This gel should be applied starting 2 mornings before the surgery. After a wash, rinse, and dry of the area, patients should apply a half-dollar-size dollop of BPO to the entire shoulder and armpit area. This application is repeated at night, the following morning and night, and the morning of surgery, for a total of 5 applications.

Finally, if you have any nail polish on that extremity, please completely remove prior to surgery.

Crutches, Brace, Sling:

If you were provided a sling, brace or crutches prior to surgery, please bring them in on the day of surgery for us to review. Please do not cut the straps on your brace prior to surgery as it may not allow appropriate adjustment after surgery. If you were not provided crutches or a brace, or need a special one after surgery, we will provide it at day surgery.

Physical Therapy:

Physical therapy is an extremely important aspect of your recovery. Dr. Wilkinson’s staff will help you schedule your first post-operative therapy appointment with a local physical therapy office of your choice. Doing this prior to surgery will ensure you are all set for success. You will need to arrange for your continuing physical therapy appointments. Typically you will start with therapy twice per week for six weeks. It is your responsibility to call and schedule the other physical therapy appointments. Dr. Wilkinson’s office will send the prescription for physical therapy initiation and renewals. Many surgeries will require therapy for at least 4-6 months.

Medications:

You will be prescribed pain medications after surgery. It will be sent electronically to your pharmacy on the day of surgery. Dr. Wilkinson may prescribe a medication to prevent blood clots if appropriate. If you have been prescribed this, please make sure you take this medication as instructed after surgery. If you have a personal or family history of blood clots or bleeding disorders, please ensure you inform Dr. Wilkinson.

Dr. Wilkinson encourages all patients take a multivitamin and a combination tablet of Calcium/Vitamin D over the counter daily. Please select one that has at least 600 mg Calcium and 800 IU of Vitamin D (i.e., Caltrate). Take the vitamins for at least 3 months after surgery. We will often also check your Vitamin D level with a blood draw if clinically concerned. If this value is low, we will prescribe a higher dose of Vit D.

Contact Number:

For questions call Dr. Wilkinson’s clinic at 956-362-6683 (option 1). If it is after hours, your call will go to an answering service who may help you.