Surgical Information

Helpful information before and after your surgery.

Total Joint Replacement Checklist

Before surgery

  • Pre-op appointment with OrthoVirginia
  • Pre-op appointment with hospital/anesthesia consult 
  • Visit your medical doctor (within 30 days of surgery) 
  • Dental examination (within 6 weeks of surgery)
  • Attend Total Joint Orientation class at hospital
  • Call outpatient physical therapy to set up a pre-op appointment.
  • Make outpatient physical therapy appointment. to start after surgery

1 week before surgery

STOP anti-inflammatory meds: Aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Aleve,Advil, Diclofenac
EXCEPT Celebrex (you may take Celebrex up to day of surgery)

2 days before surgery

  • Check with your hospital for your ARRIVAL TIME on day of surgery

Night before surgery

  • Do not eat or drink anything past midnight unless instructed by the anesthesiologist or your surgeon

Schedule for 2 weeks after surgery

  • 1st post-op appointment in the surgeon’s office 

Total Joint Surgery Helpful Hints

Information specific to Reston Hospital

  • You will be told your date of surgery. Your time of surgery is subject to change.
  • Arrive  2 hours prior to your surgery time to the Reston hospital center registration desk.
    Access hospital through ‘main entrance’ at front of hospital (by American flag pole & cafeteria) & use free valet parking service,
  • Bring exercise type clothes with you to the hospital, like gym shorts, sweat pants, loose tops, yoga apparel, good walking shoes.
  • Hospital rooms are all private, with flat screen TV’s & music therapy, free wifi internet services.
  • Bring books, electronics, knitting, music, etc to pass the time. 
  • There are no time restrictions on visiting hours on the total joint 4th floor.  A support person (>18 yrs) can spend the night in the hospital room with you if you want (not necessary).
  • Therapy staff will work with you personally, and there will be group exercise classes while you are in the hospital.
  • Walking is great exercise, get up and move around about every hour (except during sleep hours), & continue leg-raise exercises.
  • Elevate your feet higher than your hips so they don’t swell at rest; *apply ice to operative area (not on bare skin!).
  • You can shower as soon as you are discharged from hospital (no tub baths, swimming, or hot tubs initially).
  • Water-proof dressings stay on incision for a week, then use large band-aid type dressings or gauze supplied by hospital.  
  • Do not apply any medications to incision: no alcohol,
  • No peroxide, no ointments, no lotions, etc.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to flush your system and to avoid constipation; *take stool softener or laxative as needed
  • Follow up with surgeon in his office 10-14 days after the surgery for staple removal and xrays.

You will be told when you first post-op appointment is.