Post Operative Questions

1. If an appointment has not yet been made for you, call the office during business hours:  9:00 to 4:00
2. The operated extremity should routinely be elevated, unless of course it is a shoulder, which is already elevated.
3. Icing the operated site is often helpful.
4. Antibiotics are not routinely used after surgery.
5. Some mild bruising and blood spots are normal.
6. After nerve repair or decompression the extremity will not immediately regain its sensation.
7. Numbness is also normal after several types of surgery, including trigger finger surgery, due to the local anesthesia and could last 12 to 24 hours.
8. The sling may be removed at night, also if the surgery was on your shoulder, it is often helpful to remove the sling to straighten and bend the elbow to prevent stiffness.
9. Exposed pins should be cleaned 3 times a day by dabbing where the pin comes out of the skin with a cotton applicator soaked in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, bottled water is OK, 50/50 mixture.
10. If the fingers swell and elevation is not working, loosen the dressing by unwrapping the elastic bandage, cutting the white padding so that you can see your skin, and replacing the elastic bandage
11.  Keep wounds clean and dry until otherwise instructed.
12.  It is OK to restart blood thinners on the day after surgery.
13. After a general anesthetic, begin with liquids and advance to a regular diet as tolerated.
14. You will be ready to drive when you are no longer requiring pain medications and when you can control your vehicle.  Dr Thull is not able to make this judgment.  If there is any question then contact the department of motor  vehicles for a driving test.
15. Refill requests should be sent to your pharmacy.  They will fax the request to us and then a refill can be approved if appropriate.  If the requests are done on Friday,   then   most likely the message will not be received until the following Monday.

 

Pre-Operative Questions

1. Do not eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours prior to surgery, unless the surgery is being done with ONLY local anesthesia.  Even if you are having sedation you are not to eat or drink for 8 hours prior to surgery. No cigarettes or chewing tobacco either.
2. Do not take blood thinners for 5 days prior to surgery.  This includes aspirin, plavix, coumadin etc, unless otherwise instructed.  This may need to be discussed with your primary doctor.
3. Be at the surgery center at the appropriate time:
Greenbaum:  1 1/2 hours prior to scheduled start time.
Piper:  2 hours prior to scheduled start time.
Scottsdale Health Care Osborne and Shea:  2 hours prior to scheduled start.
Gateway:  90 minutes  prior to scheduled start time.
4. You WILL need a ride to and from surgery unless it is being done with ONLY local anesthesia.  Even with sedation, you will need a ride home.
5. It is OK to take your necessary medications with a small sip of water on the morning of surgery.

Addresses and phone numbers:

GREENBAUM SURGERY CENTER
3535 North Scottsdale Road
(480) 882-4657
Just north of Osborn on the east side of Scottsdale Road.

PIPER SURGERY CENTER
9007 East Shea Boulevard 
(480) 860-3908
At the southeast corner of Shea and 90th Street.

SCOTTSDALE HEALTH CARE OSBORN
7400 East Osborn Road
     (480) 882-4000 ask for same day surgery.
North west corner of Osborn Road and  Drinkwater Blvd.

SCOTTSDALE HEALTH CARE SHEA
9003 East Shea Boulevard
(480)332-3000 ask for same day surgery.
At the southeast corner of Shea and 90th Street.

GATEWAY SURGERY CENTER
690 North Cofco Center Court  Suite 150
(602) 288-4441
Just south of the 202 on 44th street, behind the Chinese Cultural Center on the west side of 44th street.