Chris Lena MD, James Alvarez PAC

Arthroscopic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Shoulder and Knee Sports Medicine MEA’s Karen Smith, Jackie Zuidema, Annmarie Fiore

Tel: (860) 549-8249 - FAX: (860) 244-8813 www.oahct.com

DISTALBICEPSTENDONREPAIR

1.GENERAL:Youwillfeelalittleoffforadayortwoaftertheanesthetic.Duringthattimeyoushouldnotdrinkalcoholicbeverages,makeanyimportantdecisionsorengageinanypotentiallyhazardousactivities.Itisverycommontobeslightlynauseatedandyoushouldstartwithalight,lowfatdietuntilyourappetitecomesback.

2.ACTIVITIES:

a. WEIGHTBEARING:Youshouldnotputanyweightonyourarm(i.e.pushingyourselfupoutofachair).DonotdoanystrenuousactivityuntilIclearyouforthis.

b. DRIVING:Youmaynotdriveavehicleuntilafteryourfirstpostoperativevisit.Youmaythendriveavehicleaslongasyouareabletosafelyoperatethevehicle.Youcannotdriveifyouaretakingnarcoticpainmedication!!!

c. WORK:Youmayreturntoworkassoonasyoufeelableandifperformingyourregularjobispossiblegivenyouractivityrestrictions(otherwisewewilldiscussreturntoworkatyourfirstpost-opvisit).

3.BANDAGES/SPLINT:Itisnotunusualforsomebloodtoshowthroughonthedressing.Somebloodydrainageisexpected,andmaylastupto24hours.Ifyourdressingsbecomesoaked,youmayreinforcethemwithgauzepadsavailableatanypharmacy.Thesplintanddressingshouldcoverthewoundsandsupportthearmbutshouldnotfeeloverlytightoruncomfortable.IfitseemstootightyoushouldundotheACEonly,andthenre-wrapthearmwiththeACEalittlelooser.IfitcontinuestobetotightcalltheofficeorgototheERifitisafterhours.Yourbandageshouldotherwiseremainonuntilyourfollow-upappointment.

4.MEDICATIONS:Aprescriptionwillbeprovidedtohelprelievepain.Pleaseusethismedicationasdirected.Thismedicationisstrong,andshouldnotbetakenwithalcoholorotherpainmedications,andmaycausedrowsiness.Exercisegoodjudgmentinitsuse.YoumayalsotryoverthecounterpainmedicationssuchasAleve(Naprosyn)orAdvil(Ibuprofen).Takeasdirectedunlesstherearecontraindications.Take1Aspirin(325mg)dailyinadditiontothepainmedication(DVTprophylaxis).

5.SHOWER:Youmayshowerafter48hoursonlyifyouareabletokeepthedressingandsplintcompletelydryotherwiseyouwillneedtotakespongebathes.YoumustkeeptheincisionsDRY!Trytapingplasticwraporplasticbagaroundtheareawhileshowering(ortherearecommerciallyavailableproductsyoucanfindinapharmacy).Donottakeabathorsubmergethekneeunderwateruntiltoldtodoso.

6.STITCHES:Therearestitchesintheskin.After7-10dayswewillremovethesuturesintheoffice.

7.EXERCISES:Thearmandforearmmuscleswillshrinkinsizeandstrengthquiterapidlyunlesstheyareexercised.Simpleexercisesshouldbestartedassoonaspossible.Thebestexercisesareasfollows:

a. Withoutmovingyourelbow,clenchthearmandforearmmusclestightly.Holdthemusclesclenchedtightfor5seconds,andthenrelax.Repeatthisexercise10-20timesevery30-60minutes.Youshouldtrytodoatleast100perdaytokeepthetoneandstrengthinthemuscle.

b. Youcannotbendtheelbow.

c. Youcanmoveyourshoulderandfingersassoonasyoufeelcomfortable.

d. Theneedforphysicaltherapywillbediscussedatyourfollow-upvisit.

OrthopedicAssociatesofHartford•Tel:(860)549-8249•Fax:(860)244-8813•oahct.com

8.COMFORT:Painandswellingaftersurgeryistobeexpected.Whileswellingisanormalresponsetothesurgery,itcancontributetoyourpain.Usingiceregularlyandelevation(placeyourarmabovetheleveloftheheart)isthebestwaytodecreaseyourpainandswelling.Itiscriticalthatyouspendthefirstweekaftersurgerywithyourarmelevatedaboveyourheartasmuchaspossible.Ifthefollowingdevelopandpersistafter24hours,pleasecalltheoffice:

a. Feverover101degrees.

b. Swellinginthearm,forearmorhandwhichdoesnotrespondtolooseningoftheacewrap/biaswrapandice/elevation.

c. Increasingpaininthearmandforearm.

d. Dischargeordrainagetroughthedressingwhichcontinuesgreaterthan24hours.

9.FOLLOW-UP:Pleasecalltheoffice(549-8249)thedayafteryouroperationandmakeanappointmentfor7-10daysafteryourprocedure.Youwillbechecked,yourdressingandsplintwillberemoved(youmayrequireadditionalbracing);x-rayswillbetakenifnecessary,yourprocedurediscussedandyourrehabilitationwillbeplanned.