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Pre-operative Instructions

Cleansing

Dr. Momaya takes infection precautions very seriously.  Once you have signed up for surgery, please purchase antibacterial body soap (i.e., Dial AntiBacterial Soap) and use this daily before surgery, including the morning of surgery.  You will also continue to use this after surgery for bathing.

If you are having shoulder surgery, please purchase 5% Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) gel. This gel should be applied starting 2 mornings before the surgery.  After a wash, rinse, and dry of the area, patients should apply a half-dollar-size dollop of BPO to the entire shoulder and armpit area. This application is repeated at night, the following morning and night, and the morning of surgery, for a total of 5 applications.

Finally, if you have any nail polish on that extremity, please completely remove prior to surgery.

Physical Therapy

Therapy is an extremely important aspect of your recovery.  Please make sure you go ahead and schedule an appointment with a local physical therapy office per Dr. Momaya’s instructions. Do this prior to surgery.  Dr. Momaya will give you the prescription for physical therapy on the day of surgery.

Medications

You will be prescribed a pain medication for after surgery.  Please go ahead and fill this so you have it ready to be used immediately after surgery.  Dr. Momaya may prescribe medication to prevent blood clots if appropriate.  If you have been prescribed this, please make sure you take this medication as instructed after surgery.  Also, Dr. Momaya has all patients take a multivitamin and a combination tablet of Calcium/Vitamin D over the counter daily.  Please select one that has at least 600 mg Calcium and 800 IU of Vitamin D (i.e., Caltrate). Take the vitamins for at least 3 months after surgery.

Contact Number

For questions at UAB call Sarah Kasprow, ATC at 205-930-8339 (option 3).

Post-operative Instructions

Physical Therapy

Therapy is an extremely important aspect of your recovery.  Please make sure you arrange physical therapy as instructed by Dr. Momaya.  Please be sure to take the physical therapy protocol with you to your appointment.  Dr. Momaya will give you the prescription for physical therapy on the day of surgery.

Incision Care / Bathing

Dr. Momaya will provide specific instructions on day of surgery. For simple scope procedures, most dressings may be changed a few days after surgery.  Once the incisions stay dry for approximately 24 hours after the first dressing change, one may start to shower (typically 3-5 days after surgery).  You may let soapy water run down across the incision site area, but please do not scrub the incision area.  Leave the steri-strip adhesives on your incision, and these will fall off over time as they get wet.  If you have a splint or cast, do not get that wet.

Pain Medications

Please follow the instructions as provided on your pain medications.  Dr. Momaya generally prescribes an opiate to help with post surgical pain.  You may also take Tylenol over the counter to help with the pain.  Also, you may use an ice bag or wrap with elevation to help control swelling and pain.  If you run out of pain medications or feel that you need a stronger dose, please call our office to speak with our nurses.

Other Medications

Dr. Momaya may prescribe medication to prevent blood clots if appropriate.  If you have been prescribed this, please make sure you take this medication as instructed.  Also, Dr. Momaya has all patients take a multivitamin and a combination tablet of Calcium/Vitamin D over the counter daily.  Please select one that has at least 600 mg Calcium and 800 IU of Vitamin D (i.e., Caltrate). Take the vitamins for at least 3 months after surgery.

Driving

Please refrain from driving until you are off all narcotics and have full control of the extremity.

Post-operative Issues

Please let us know immediately if you have any persistent fevers (above 101.4 degrees F), sudden increase in pain and swelling, increased numbness or weakness, deep calf pain/swelling or shortness of breath.  Please call our office first if during business hours.  Please do not wait until the end of the day to call.  We will advise if it best to come to the clinic or go to the emergency room. 

If a pain pump was placed for your surgery and you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Anesthesia Pain Service at 205-930-7115

Contact Numbers

For questions at UAB call Sarah Kasprow, ATC at 205-930-8339 (option 3).For questions at Children’s of Alabama call Ashley Williamson, ATC at 205-934-1041.For urgent questions outside of normal business hours, please contact the UAB Hospital operator at 205-934-3411 and ask to have the orthopedic resident on call paged.