Patient Resources

Please bring a wheeled walker with you to surgery. If you do not already own one, please review the attached information sheet to find locations for buying or renting equipment. Bring clothing that is loose fitting and comfortable, and non-slip shoes.

Since the majority of Dr. Hanson’s total joint replacements are scheduled to be done on a Monday at the hospital, Dr. Hanson’s nurse will call you on Friday morning (a few days prior to surgery) with your arrival time. If surgery is scheduled at TCOM, a staff member from TCOM will contact you the day before surgery to inform you of your arrival time.

Typically, 24 hours (depending on your progress). Dr. Hanson will visit you the day after surgery when he makes his rounds at the hospital. He will then decide if you are ready to be discharged home. If having surgery at TCOM and staying at the Recovery Care Center, Dr. Hanson’s physician assistant will visit you the day after surgery when he makes his rounds.

Bruising and swelling after surgery is common. The amount of swelling is different for each patient. Use ice packs/cooling wrap to relieve soreness and swelling. Keep operative leg elevated with pillows under heel, never under your knee. If you are having a total knee replacement, it is important to get your knee stronger during the first week. Additionally, keep your leg elevated often above heart level while lying flat on your back to help reduce swelling. Please let Dr. Hanson’s staff know if you experience calf pain. This could be a sign of a blood clot.

A Prineo dressing (Dermabond glue with mesh) is applied underneath your outer dressing after a total knee/hip surgery. The Prineo dressing helps hold the incision together during the healing process. Therefore, it is imperative that the Prineo dressing is left on for 3 weeks. The dressing is typically removed by your physical therapist 3 weeks after surgery. You may shower with your dressing on, but NO BATHS, as long as there is no drainage present. If drainage continues, change the bandage twice daily with gauze.

KEEP the Prineo dressing intact. Gently cleanse the area surrounding the Prineo dressing. DO NOT scrub directly where the Prineo has been applied. Instead, allow the soap and water to run across the wound. After showering, gently blot the wound with a soft towel to dry.

you may shower as long as there is no drainage, but DO NOT submerge the area in tubs or pools until staples are out and the area is FULLY healed. Staples are typically removed 2 weeks after surgery. You may clean AROUND the incision with warm antibacterial soap and water.

Dr. Hanson has his patients take 81mg of Aspirin twice daily for 1 month after surgery (unless instructed otherwise). If you were already on a blood thinner prior to surgery, please contact the prescribing provider for instructions on when to resume the medication.

If you had a Right total hip or knee replacement, wait at least 2 weeks to drive, AND when you are no longer taking narcotics (pain medicine), and you feel safe to drive. If you had a Left total hip or knee replacement, you may drive when you are no longer taking narcotics, and you feel safe to drive.

Yes! Do not bend past 90 degrees for 3 months.

Dr. Hanson leaves that up to the therapist’s discretion and depending on how well you are progressing. Keep in mind everyone heals/progresses differently.

Yes! Our goal is to keep you active and moving even before surgery, as much as you can tolerate.

This may depend on your job duties. Most patients who perform desk/sedentary duties are able to return to work 4-6 weeks after surgery or sooner in some cases. If you perform more physical labor, you may need to be off work longer than that.

Dr. Hanson recommends to wait to fly after 6 weeks postop.

Dr. Hanson’s total hip and knee replacements are done under spinal anesthesia. (You will NOT be awake for surgery). Spinal anesthesia results in less blood loss, less risk for blood clots, less postoperative confusion, better control of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and is great for improving postoperative pain management. It is also better for your heart, brain, and lungs than general anesthesia. Additionally, studies have shown a lower rate of postoperative complications when comparing spinal versus general anesthesia.

Yes! Antibiotics help prevent an infection in your total joint replacement. Therefore, you will need to take a single dose of antibiotics 1 hour prior to your invasive procedure that may cause bleeding. Please call Dr. Hanson’s staff if you are having the following done: teeth cleaning/dental procedure, colonoscopy, endoscopy, and any gynecological procedure. Dr. Hanson prefers you wait 6 months after surgery to have any invasive procedure. You will need to do this for life following your surgery.