Wound care
After the surgery, the wound will be closed with stitches and sometimes steri-strips. It is then covered with a dressing and additionally, a dressing pad is applied to soak up any additional fluid which may leak out of the joint. This can be removed after 24 hrs, but you may want to put a towel on your bed for the first two nights to avoid spoiling your bedding.
Your stitches will come out in two weeks, either at your doctor’s practice or during your appointment if your surgeon intends to see you early. Before this time, it is important to keep your wound areas dry.
Redness around the incision is not unusual and should not be a concern. However, please contact your care team if you have:
Redness as well as drainage five days after surgery
Redness that spreads away from the incision
A fever
A yellow or green foul-smelling discharge
Blisters that develop around your surgery site
This could indicate the start of an infection.
Most patients will have a waterproof dressing on the incision site, however, do not immerse the wound sites in water nor point the showerhead directly over the dressings. Avoid this area when showering or bathing.
If the dressing becomes wet and starts to peel off, you can replace it with a clean dressing taking care not to touch the incision site and the inside of the dressing.
Ensure the hospital gives you a spare dressing to take home.