You will have a complete physical examination several weeks before the revision surgery. This is to check if you are healthy enough for the surgery. If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon may ask you to see the health care provider who treats you for these conditions to see if it is safe for you to have the surgery.
You will have imaging tests to check the condition of your knee and the extent of bone loss around the implant:
Imaging tests help to determine if there is loosening or other mechanical problems of the prosthesis or its parts.
Your surgeon may order blood tests to determine if you have an infection. Aspiration of knee joint fluid may be done to check for infection.
You may need to make some changes before the surgery.
- Tell your surgeon or nurse if you are taking any medicines, including any drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.
- Tell your surgeon if you have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks per day.
If you smoke, you need to stop. Ask your providers for help. Smoking will slow down wound and bone healing. Your recovery may not be as good if you keep smoking.
During the week before your surgery:
- Prepare your home ahead of time.
- You may be asked to temporarily stop taking medicines that keep your blood from clotting. These medicines are called blood thinners. This includes over-the-counter medicines and supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and vitamin E. Many prescription medicines are also blood thinners.
- You may also need to stop taking medicines that can make your body more likely to get an infection. These include methotrexate, etanercept (Enbrel), or other medicines that suppress your immune system. Make sure you ask your surgeon when it is safe to resume taking these medicines.
- Ask your surgeon which medicines you should still take on the day of your surgery.
- Always let your surgeon know about any cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other illness you have before your surgery.
- You may want to visit a physical therapist to learn some exercises to do before surgery.
- Ask your provider whether you need to go to a nursing home or rehabilitation facility after surgery. If you do, you should check out these places ahead of time and note your preference.
Practice using a cane, walker, crutches, or a wheelchair correctly to:
- Get in and out of the shower
- Go up and down stairs
- Sit down to use the toilet and stand up after using the toilet
- Use the shower chair
On the day of your surgery:
- Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking.
- Take the medicines your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
- Arrive at the hospital on time.