UbiCare

Smart Things to Do Before Your Joint Surgery

In the weeks before joint replacement surgery, you’ll want to ensure that you’re as healthy as possible for the procedure. Four things, in particular, are important to start dealing with now:

1. Visit your dentist.

You may want to have a dental exam and take care of any dental work you need 2-4 weeks before surgery. There is a small risk of bacteria entering your bloodstream during dental procedures, and this could lead to infection in a new joint.

After joint replacement surgery, some surgeons prescribe an antibiotic to patients before they undergo certain dental procedures—to avoid that low risk of infection.

2. Get to a healthy weight.

If you’re significantly overweight, try to shed some excess pounds. Extra weight puts stress on your joint, and it’s best to avoid putting that with a new joint.

Also, patients with obesity are at higher risk for breathing difficulties during and after surgery, as well as poor wound healing, blood clots and infection after surgery.

Ask your surgeon or primary care provider about a healthy weight for your body and how to get there.
Eat a healthy diet low in sugar, fat and processed foods to help with weight loss and prepare your body for surgery and recovery.

3. Fill out an advance healthcare directive.

In the weeks leading up to your surgery, you’ll likely be asked if you have an advance healthcare directive. This is a document that allows you to specify the medical care you would want if you were too ill or hurt to express your wishes. Learn more about advance directives.

4. If you smoke, quit.

Smokers undergoing surgery have twice the risk of infection of nonsmokers and their bones take almost twice as long to heal.

Our hospital is a non-smoking facility; you will not be able to smoke here.

We can help you stop smoking. Ask your doctor about techniques and strategies for quitting. Check out Smokefree.gov for all the latest resources.