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The Waverley Orthopaedic Clinic offers specialised Orthopaedic Surgery for Arthritis, especially Hip and Knee Replacement surgery, but also offers experienced treatment and surgical options for foot and ankle conditions, fracture surgery, sports orthopaedic surgery, and shoulder surgery, through the expertise available from the number of orthopaedic surgeons working from this clinic. If surgery is advised for an orthopaedic condition, before proceeding, your surgeon will arrange assessments to ensure that you are fit enough to undergo your orthopaedic operation, and your risks are minimised. The following information describes important details about your preparation for an operation, and gives information about anaesthesia. You will appreciate that having a Joint replacement operation requires considerable preparation, and a large, experienced and dedicated team of orthopaedic people to care for you. Waverley Orthopaedic Clinic, and the associated staff at The Valley Private hospital where we do our joint replacement surgery are experienced and caring in all aspects of your surgical journey.
| • | Surgery Pre-Operative After the decision has been made that a joint replacement is indicated to help your hip or knee arthritis symptoms, a pre-operative "work up" is undertaken. A thorough medical examination is done. This may be done by the anaesthetist just prior to your operation if you are in good general health. If your surgeon notes that you have some medical diagnoses, or you are simply "getting on in years",as many patients requiring joint replacement operations are, he will refer you to a specialist physician for this assessment. Routine blood tests, Chest X-ray, Cardiograph, are done and other special tests as deemed necessary.Medications may be prescribed, and lifestyle recommendations made, such as losing weight, and stopping smoking. You may be taking some drugs that must be ceased before operation, such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or drugs that prevent your blood clotting, such as Warfarin, Plavix or related drugs. An appointment is made with our pre-admissions nurse, who will advise about peri-operative requirements, organise physical aids such as crutches, toilet seats, shower chairs, and the numerous other assistive devices you may require. She can help answer many of your simple but practical concerns, reassure you about the preparations, and organise your post-operative rehabilitation unit admission. She will introduce you to the ward, and the friendly and competent nursing staff who will care for you after your operation.A home visit by our Occupational therapist, and adjustments to your home situation may be made prior to operation if needed. If you have questions or concerns regarding your operation, you can address these to any of our professional staff before your operation: your surgeon, the physician, anaesthetist,the pre-admissions nursing staff, the ward nursing staff, our physiotherpists, or paramedical staff. We are all here to help you, reassure you,and to make your operation uncomplicated, routine, and successful for you. The Surgical Team: You will be surprised by the number of staff surrounding you in the operating room when you are "wheeled in". Apart from the anaesthetist, and your Orthopaedic surgeon, the team has an experienced orthopaedic assistant surgeon, a specialist orthopeadic instrument nurse, an anaesthetic nurse, an instrument scout nurse, an orthopaedic theatre technician, and a surgical company representative. Each member of the team has a specialised job to do while you are in the operating theatre.
| | • | Anaesthesia Your anaesthetist will conduct a pre-anaesthetic consultation and examination before your operation. He/ She will review your prior medical conditions, your previous history of anaesthetics, determine if you have any drug allergies, and explain to you how your anaesthetic will be done, and how any post-operative pain will be managed. For most joint replacement surgery, either hip or knee replacement, a spinal anaesthetic is preferred, and this is combined with a mild general anaesthetic, or intra-venous sedative medications. Modern anaesthesia is safe and effective, but it does have risks. Rarely side effects from an anaesthetic can be dangerous, and you should clarify any concerns you may have with your anaethetist before your procedure. If there are concerns before, or during your operation about your welfare, you may be transferred to the intensive care unit for observation and supervision, or treatment if you become unwell after the operation. The Intensive Care unit is staffed by highly trained nursing staff and medical specialistst o deal with any serious complications that may occur after anaesthesia and operation, and provides an excellent back-up support service if such problems do happen. |
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