Preoperative preparation for joint replacement surgery
Joint replacement surgery is a standard procedure that helps individuals with severe joint pain, stiffness, and limited mobility caused by degenerative joint diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or trauma. While joint replacement surgery has become safer and more effective over the years, it still involves enough risks and challenges. Therefore, thoroughly preparing for joint replacement surgery is crucial to ensure the best possible outcome. Through this blog post, we will discuss the preoperative preparation for joint replacement surgery.
Medical evaluation and clearance
You must go through a complete medical evaluation and receive approval from your primary care physician or a specialist before having joint replacement surgery. A physical examination, blood and urine tests, and imaging tests including X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans are all components of the medical evaluation. These examinations are intended to evaluate your general health, spot any underlying illnesses that might have an impact on your procedure or recovery, and make sure you are a good candidate for joint replacement surgery.
Nutrition and exercise
Exercise and a healthy diet can help you feel better overall and get your body ready for surgery. Consequently, before having joint replacement surgery, it is essential to resort to a balanced diet and maintain a proper exercise schedule. A diverse intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats should make up a proper diet full of nutrition. It’s also crucial to refrain from processed foods, sweet beverages, and fatty foods because they can worsen swelling and delay healing.
A prescribed combination of free hand exercises that can enhance mobility in your joints, minimise stiffness and pain can be recommended by either the family doctor or physical therapist. Nevertheless, it is crucial to refrain from high-impact strenuous activities like running and jumping as they may cause damage to your joints and escalate the risk of an injury.
Preoperative education
Preoperative education is an important part of the preparation to a joint replacement surgery. Preoperative education aims to inform you about the process, the expectations before, during, and after the joint replacement surgery, and ways to ready yourself mentally and physically. Such preoperative education can also aid in reducing anxiety and facilitate a smooth recovery.
Preoperative testing and screening
To make sure you are both mentally and physically ready for surgery, you must go through a number of preoperative examinations and screening tests before having joint replacement surgery. These examinations could involve blood, urine, an electrocardiogram (ECG), a chest X-ray, and other diagnostic procedures. The tests are carried out to check for any underlying illnesses or diseases that could escalate your chance of complications during or after surgery.
A holistic outlook is required in preoperative preparation for a joint replacement surgery, emphasising on patient safety, comfort, and favourable outcomes. Close collaboration with surgeons and doctors and adherence to all the directions are essential for patients to achieve optimal results from their joint replacement surgery.
YK Orthopaedics provides a patient-centred viewpoint to care, and we prioritise the patient’s comfort and well-being throughout the surgery process. We ensure our patients get the best possible care during their stay with us. We provide comprehensive postoperative rehabilitation and subsequent follow-ups to corroborate long-term outcomes. For any enquiries and appointments, please call (+91) 885137 6606.
